Post by CCADP on Aug 23, 2005 6:25:09 GMT -5
Public will still be asked to help find witnesses
Man's complaint won't deter effort
+ enlarge
Christopher 2X was flanked by members of Sheldon Wright's family, who object to use of the media to find him to testify. The women are, from left, Wright's daughter Reese Wright; his wife, O'Lester Wright; and daughter Octavia Wright. (By Sam Upshaw Jr., The Courier-Journal)
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By Jason Riley
jriley@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Despite a recent complaint, the Jefferson Commonwealth's Attorney's office has no plans to stop asking the public for help in finding witnesses for trials.
"We've been very successful lately in presenting these matters to the media," said Harry Rothgerber, first assistant with the commonwealth's attorney's office.
The family of Sheldon Wright, who is scheduled to testify in the Kenneth Parker triple murder trial, asked prosecutors to change the process after his picture and last known address were given to the media on Friday.
In the trial, which began yesterday, Parker is charged in the slayings of LaKnogony McCurley in 2000, JaJuan Stephenson in 2001 and William Barnes in 2002.
With one witness in the Parker trial killed this year, Wright and his family were "scared" when prosecutors said he was a witness and sought help in finding him, said Christopher 2X, a western Louisville activist serving as a spokesman for Wright.
"He is not an eyewitness," 2X said at a news conference yesterday afternoon. "He heard gunshots like other neighbors. … Sheldon Wright doesn't feel he has any relevant information."
2X and members of Wright's family met twice with officials at the commonwealth's attorney's office yesterday to confirm Wright's limited knowledge in the case and ask that future situations be handled differently.
Wright has been subpoenaed to testify on Monday in the trial, 2X said. With his picture on television news broadcasts, Wright was painted as a fugitive and labeled in the community as a murder witness -- neither of which was true, 2X said.
David Mejia, Parker's attorney, said he was concerned with the media attention generated by the prosecution's request for help in finding Wright -- and its effect on potential jurors.
He also said Wright had little knowledge in the case.
"He's not a witness to anything," Mejia said. "This man didn't see a shooting."
Rothgerber said they gave the media the information on Wright as a "last resort," after law-enforcement agencies could not find him.
"If we have any felony case where a witness can't be found and we need that witness, then it's been our policy lately to advise the media," Rothgerber said. "We plan to continue doing that."
Earlier this month, for example, the commonwealth's attorney's office asked the public to help find three witnesses for the rape trial of a former Louisville Metro police officer.
Two of the witnesses were found, and the third made contact with a defense attorney.
Rothgerber would not discuss what Wright might testify to in the Parker trial, but he called yesterday's meetings with Wright's family "cooperative and collaborative, very positive."
The Parker case is one of several involving the Victory Park Crips, a gang that was active around Victory Park, at Greenwood Avenue and 22nd Street.
One witness scheduled to testify in the case against Parker was Marcus "Toot" Stallard, 21, who was shot to death in March.
Stallard was driving the car from which fatal shots were fired at McCurley, an 18-year-old Central High School graduate.
Stallard made a plea agreement in exchange for his testimony against Parker, and was to testify against two other gang members.
Parker, identified in court as the leader of the gang, faces 18 charges in the three slayings, as well as four charges of attempted murder. He could face the death penalty.
The jury pool yesterday had 100 members, which is more than normal. It is expected to take a week to seat a jury.
Man's complaint won't deter effort
+ enlarge
Christopher 2X was flanked by members of Sheldon Wright's family, who object to use of the media to find him to testify. The women are, from left, Wright's daughter Reese Wright; his wife, O'Lester Wright; and daughter Octavia Wright. (By Sam Upshaw Jr., The Courier-Journal)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transportation
COMPANY FLAT BED DRIVERS NEEDED GREAT OP...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transportation
Drivers-Residential Rumpke of KY! Requir...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounting/ Finance/ Banking
Controller Medium sized LaGrange manufac...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcare
We are Parkway Medical Center serving fo...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other
REPUBLIC INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL IS EXP...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technical Employment
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH Goodrich A P M...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Top Jobs
About Top Jobs
By Jason Riley
jriley@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Despite a recent complaint, the Jefferson Commonwealth's Attorney's office has no plans to stop asking the public for help in finding witnesses for trials.
"We've been very successful lately in presenting these matters to the media," said Harry Rothgerber, first assistant with the commonwealth's attorney's office.
The family of Sheldon Wright, who is scheduled to testify in the Kenneth Parker triple murder trial, asked prosecutors to change the process after his picture and last known address were given to the media on Friday.
In the trial, which began yesterday, Parker is charged in the slayings of LaKnogony McCurley in 2000, JaJuan Stephenson in 2001 and William Barnes in 2002.
With one witness in the Parker trial killed this year, Wright and his family were "scared" when prosecutors said he was a witness and sought help in finding him, said Christopher 2X, a western Louisville activist serving as a spokesman for Wright.
"He is not an eyewitness," 2X said at a news conference yesterday afternoon. "He heard gunshots like other neighbors. … Sheldon Wright doesn't feel he has any relevant information."
2X and members of Wright's family met twice with officials at the commonwealth's attorney's office yesterday to confirm Wright's limited knowledge in the case and ask that future situations be handled differently.
Wright has been subpoenaed to testify on Monday in the trial, 2X said. With his picture on television news broadcasts, Wright was painted as a fugitive and labeled in the community as a murder witness -- neither of which was true, 2X said.
David Mejia, Parker's attorney, said he was concerned with the media attention generated by the prosecution's request for help in finding Wright -- and its effect on potential jurors.
He also said Wright had little knowledge in the case.
"He's not a witness to anything," Mejia said. "This man didn't see a shooting."
Rothgerber said they gave the media the information on Wright as a "last resort," after law-enforcement agencies could not find him.
"If we have any felony case where a witness can't be found and we need that witness, then it's been our policy lately to advise the media," Rothgerber said. "We plan to continue doing that."
Earlier this month, for example, the commonwealth's attorney's office asked the public to help find three witnesses for the rape trial of a former Louisville Metro police officer.
Two of the witnesses were found, and the third made contact with a defense attorney.
Rothgerber would not discuss what Wright might testify to in the Parker trial, but he called yesterday's meetings with Wright's family "cooperative and collaborative, very positive."
The Parker case is one of several involving the Victory Park Crips, a gang that was active around Victory Park, at Greenwood Avenue and 22nd Street.
One witness scheduled to testify in the case against Parker was Marcus "Toot" Stallard, 21, who was shot to death in March.
Stallard was driving the car from which fatal shots were fired at McCurley, an 18-year-old Central High School graduate.
Stallard made a plea agreement in exchange for his testimony against Parker, and was to testify against two other gang members.
Parker, identified in court as the leader of the gang, faces 18 charges in the three slayings, as well as four charges of attempted murder. He could face the death penalty.
The jury pool yesterday had 100 members, which is more than normal. It is expected to take a week to seat a jury.