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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2002)
ek nation HE BATTai 4 VTION THE BATTALION Court ru| s terr s expele, poy denies his older brother killed father 1 (AP) - ina, i on Tuesday ^ urt approve relatives | PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A 13-year-old boy rror suspects td< k the witness stand Wednesday and calmly nous ruling j denied that lie and his brother killed their father idge panels wi h a baseball bat last fall, three Pales- Alex. King’s testimony came only a few hours Israeli rr after prosecutors played a tape-recorded statement lied from the in which he confessed to police. But Alex, with dza Strip. choirboy looks and undersize for his age, told jpheld the a jurors that a family friend he had once loved emo- 'f and Krfahk tionally and sexually committed the murder. >ther of Ali k 1 “ 1 le teild us that there had been a fight,” Alex tes- organited se- tilled. “He said he had killed my dad to protect us.” ngs ft block: M ^ ex S ave similar testimony against the man, ^>del Nasser Ricky Chavis, at Chavis’ trial last week. Chavis, • Hamas j- 4<>. was tried for the same crime before a different volvement r j l r y* hut the verdict will remain sealed until the js ambushes • » ) y s t r *al is over. Eike Chavis, Alex and Derek King are being is killed Auj uied as adults on charges of first-degree murder arson. Each would receive an automatic sen- u nee of life in prison without parole if convicted It killing Terry King, 40. I The boys were 12 and 13 at the time of the tying. I For the second time in as many weeks, Alex Kpudiated confessions he and Derek, now 14, lave to Escambia County sheriff’s deputies a day liter their father was bludgeoned to death. I Alex said the brothers hid in the trunk of Ihavis’ car while Chavis killed their father short- I after the boys returned home from running ■way. They had spent nearly 10 days with Chavis, Biding under a trap door when their father came to ■isit. Alex said. Firefighters found King’s body inside his bum- ikig home Nov. 26. Unlike last week, when he testified in a green ■ail jump suit and handcuffs. Alex had on a long- sleeve dress shirt and tie and his hands were free. attack, id that lnt!« d advance i attacks teif br that Intsar ■ explosive the attacks ayor dec City saf- P) - Mayc-. id Tuesday * n New Yon • i surprising in lor afe I as safe as to New old repon; crime ser iow than v- I. "I want t: ling more i We base : jlice) prese - een ir-oeasin the pastsw muggings r nes risin ibling in’ iQl comp.- us year, eceived miffs and becotni ssue here,k crime renat n across * He looked straight at the lawyers as he answered their questions instead of staring down most of the time as he had done last week. He testified that Chavis committed the murder because he was afraid Terry King would find out he was having sex with the boy. Chavis persuaded the brothers to take the blame by telling them that, as juveniles, they could get off by claiming self- defense, Alex said. “I wanted to be with Rick because I was in love with Rick,” the boy said. ”He said my dad would have killed us before he would have let us go.” Alex said Chavis let the boys play video games, watch television as late as they wanted to and smoke marijuana at his Pensacola home. Earlier Wednesday, prosecutors played the boys’ tape-recorded confessions to police. In those statements, Derek admitted killing his father while Alex said it was his idea, claiming the brothers were afraid of being punished for running away. The first blow of the aluminum bat sounded “about like wood cracking or hitting concrete or something,” Alex said in his statement. Sheriff's investigator John Sanderson testified that both boys initially claimed Derek had struck their father during a struggle. Derek had given his statement first. ”1 told him that based on the crime scene — the crime scene tells the story — we know what his father was doing, where his father was at.” Sanderson testified. ”At that time he changed his story.” Sanderson said both boys then said they had waited until their father was asleep before he was bludgeoned. The prosecution wrapped up its case Wednesday and the defense is scheduled to con tinue making its case Thursday. 7A Thursday, September 5, 2002 Jury decides fate of convicted murderer David Westerfield SAN DIEGO (AP) — The jury that convicted David Westerfield of kidnapping and murdering his 7-year-old neighbor began deliberating Wednesday on whether he should be executed or imprisoned for the rest of his life. During closing arguments, defense attorneys said sentencing the 50-year-old engineer to death would amount to an act of revenge. But prosecutors said sparing his life would do injustice to Danielle van Dam’s memory. Westerfield was found guilty by the same jury on Aug. 21. He was arrested three weeks after Danielle was reported missing from her bed room on Feb. 2. The girl’s nude body later was found dumped along a rural road, too decomposed to determine how or when she died. Jurors deliberated for about an hour Wednesday before adjourning without reaching a verdict. They planned to resume discussions Thursday. Earlier Wednesday, Westerfield’s son and daughter testified on their father's behalf, saying he taught them to respect others. Neal and Lisa Westerfield, the defense’s last witnesses, wept as they recalled camping trips, barbecues and paternal lessons on taking responsi bility for one's actions. The college students appeared nervous during testimony, and gave short, choppy answers to defense lawyer Steven Feldman's questions. Their father struggled to maintain his composure and dabbed at tears. The defense has attempted to portray Westerfield as a family man who has contributed to society through his design work on medical devices. “Our community has got a lust for the killing of David Westerfield,” Feldman told the jury in his closing. “I fear you’ll return a ver dict of death to placate the blood- lust.” But Deputy District Attorney Jeff Dusek tried to counter that image, saying Westerfield “is not the saint that has been portrayed.” “Society has a right to protect its people. It has even a greater right to protect the weak and the young ... those who cannot protect them selves,” Dusek said. The prosecutor pulled out a tape measurer to 51 inches, demonstrating the height of the slain girl. He showed the choker necklace that she had worn for about two years and was recovered from her body. “Is he the worst of the worst? What would Danielle tell you. She knows. What would her par ents tell you? They know,” Dusek said. Under California law. Judge William Mudd can reduce the sentence to life in prison without parole but he can't impose a death sentence without the jury’s recommendation. The 12- member jury has to be unanimous to recommend the death penalty. Our community has got a lust for the killing of David Westerfield. — Steven Feldman Defense Lawyer Plans to sell Hershey Corp. is blocked by judge HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A judge Wednesday blocked any plans to Kell Hershey Foods Corp. after state ■officials warned such a move could Devastate the hometown of the nation’s largest candy maker. I Judge Warren Morgan issued the ^temporary restraining order a day after dieaxihg arguments in the case. “We're disappointed in the decision and we intend to appeal,” said Rick Kelly, a spokesman for the Hershey Trust Co. that has ordered company executives to seek bids. The trust owns 31 percent of Hershey Foods shares and a 77 percent voting stake. Morgan's order will last only until he rules on whether Attorney General Mike Fisher can review' the sale of the candy maker, should that happen. Analysts say the company could be sold for as much as $15 billion. The trust manages a $5.9 billion trust fund that finances the Milton Hershey School for disadvantaged chil dren. the closest thing to an heir to the wealth of the childless chocolate mag nate Milton Hershey, who died in 1945. Fisher has said a sale could devas tate the Hershey area, where about 6.200 people work for the company. “I am pleased the judge has stopped the sale to give us a chance to raise these issues,” Fisher said. “ We need to step back and take a hard look at how a sale of Hershey Foods would affect the Hershey community.” Fisher is drafting proposed changes to state law that would allow trustees to consider the interests of a community before selling the controlling stake in a for-profit company. Such a change would release them from their per ceived duty to maximize the value of a trust's assets. STUDIES IN PROGRESS 5 more oints ng days Have you had Canker Sores in the past? If you answered yes to both questions, you may qualify for a research study with an investigational drug for canker sores. We are currently looking for people who: are 1 2 years of age and • are in good health older do not smoke or chew tobacco get canker sores that take up to 5 days to heal are not pregnant or breast feeding have a canker sore that developed within the last 36 hours You must be able to return for daily visits for up to seven days. If you qualify, you will receive compensation for participating in this research study. Call for more Information. ASIANS • LATIN/HISPANICS' • AFRICAN AMERICANS Do you have dark brown patches or darkened skin spots on your face, arms and hands due to sun exposure? 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Eligible volunteers will be compensated for their time and effort. Call for more information. BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS STUDY Female volunteers, ages 18 and older needed to participate in a clinical research study for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Symptoms include an odorous off-white vaginal dis charge. Volunteers will receive free laboratory tests and medication and will be compensated for their time. Call for more information. OTITIS EXTERNA STUDY (SWIMMER S EAR) Volunteers, ages 6 months and older, need ed to participate in a research study of an investigational ear drop treatment for swim mer’s ear (external canal infection.) Symptoms include itching, tenderness to touch and pain. No blood work. Eligible vol unteers will be compensated. Call for more information. OSTEOARTHRITIS STUDY Persons with osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, hand, or spine needed to participate in a 12- month research study with an investigational medication. Eligible volunteers will be com pensated. Call for more information. DO YOU HAVE PSORIASIS Are you: Suffering from mild to moderate Psoriasis 8^ 12 years of age or older? Help may be just around the corner. A physician in your area is participating in a clinical trial investigating a new treatment for psoriasis. You could be eligible to partici pate. Call for more information. YEAST INFECTION STUDY Females ages 18 and older are being recruit ed to participate in a research study to com pare two research medications for the treat ment of a yeast infection (vaginitis). If you are currently experiencing vaginal burning, itching, or irritation call for more information. Eligible volunteers will be compensated up to $ 150.00. Call for more information. J&S Studies, Inc. The Physician Centre • 979-774-5933 3201 University Dr. E., Suite 475 Bryan, Texas 77802
