On a sunny afternoon on Tuesday, March 11, in broad, open daylight, a local upstate news reporter was attacked by an angry mob in Union, South Carolina, as the reporter was attempting to do a news broadcast concerning a murder.
WSPA-TV Channel 7's Charmayne Brown and her news photographer Ti Barnes were standing across the street from the scene of a homicide where a grandfather was brutally and fatally attacked. The man's grandson has been charged with the murder.
As the Channel 7 news crew prepared for the broadcast, members of the accused's family began yelling at the reporter, using racial slurs, telling her to leave. Brown and Barnes are African-American. The accused and his family are Caucasian.
Suddenly, a family member crossed the street and began hitting Brown and pulling her hair, dragging her to the ground. Soon a mob of family members were engaged in the attack. Photographer Barnes at that point rushed to Brown's aide, but to no avail. The attack merely continued.
A camera from a news crew at another upstate television station, WYFF-TV Channel 4 in Greenville, was rolling during the entire incident. All of the faces were caught on tape. A Channel 4 reporter was heard calling the Union Police Department. Within minutes police vehicles descended on the area.
Charged with assault and battery were: Trina Vinson, mother of the murder suspect; Billie Taylor; Tousha Smith, sister of the murder suspect, who is charged with two counts of assault and battery; and a forth unnamed perpetrator.
Although there were several local news crews on the scene, Brown and Barnes were the only ones attacked.
Neither Brown nor Barnes were seriously injured.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Controversy Erupts Over Botched Rape Case
Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office officials admit that they botched a rape case that may have led to the suspect being found not guilty by a jury.
John Michael Batchelor was found not guilty by a Spartanburg jury for an alleged rape that took place in 2005, when Batchelor was 16 years of age and when the alleged victim was 14.
But the Mother of the victim claims that the jury never was allowed to see evidence that may have changed the outcome of the trial--due to admitted errors by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
The victim's Mother was so outraged that she charged Sheriff's officials with gross negligence in handling evidence, including the allegation that key evidence was misplaced or lost.
That evidence, she maintains, would have proved beyond doubt that Batchelor had committed the crime.
Only a jury can make that determination, however, and as for this jury and the evidenced placed before them, Batchelor was pronounced not guilty of the crime of which he was accused.
John Michael Batchelor was found not guilty by a Spartanburg jury for an alleged rape that took place in 2005, when Batchelor was 16 years of age and when the alleged victim was 14.
But the Mother of the victim claims that the jury never was allowed to see evidence that may have changed the outcome of the trial--due to admitted errors by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
The victim's Mother was so outraged that she charged Sheriff's officials with gross negligence in handling evidence, including the allegation that key evidence was misplaced or lost.
That evidence, she maintains, would have proved beyond doubt that Batchelor had committed the crime.
Only a jury can make that determination, however, and as for this jury and the evidenced placed before them, Batchelor was pronounced not guilty of the crime of which he was accused.
CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST FORMER CHESNEE CHIEF
In a preliminary hearing before a Spartanburg County Magistrate Court Judge, charges against former Interim Chesnee police chief Jeff Kirby have been dismissed.
Kirby had been charged with professional misconduct for allegedly removing evidence from the police department and giving it back to a suspect.
While having the charges dropped by a magistrate Judge is a major step forward for Kirby, the attorney for Kirby stated that his client is still under investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division over the matter, due to the fact that Kirby is a former police officer.
Kirby was fired from his job as Interim Police Chief in Chesnee after allegations surfaced that he had removed evidence from the police department.
Kirby had been charged with professional misconduct for allegedly removing evidence from the police department and giving it back to a suspect.
While having the charges dropped by a magistrate Judge is a major step forward for Kirby, the attorney for Kirby stated that his client is still under investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division over the matter, due to the fact that Kirby is a former police officer.
Kirby was fired from his job as Interim Police Chief in Chesnee after allegations surfaced that he had removed evidence from the police department.
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