Razzoo bouncer acquitted of manslaughter in the death of Black college student
A New Orleans was acquitted on April 3rd doormen at the death on the evening of New Year 2004, a college student, friends whose Georgia has been ruled out of a karaoke bar.
A jury advise about an hour before clearing Arthur Irons, the first in a series of four Türstehern go to court, as well as the death of Levon Jones, a student at the University of Georgia in the South, in New Orleans an indicator for the football tournament.
A confrontation took place shortly after, two friends of Jones, a student at the University of South Georgia, has been prescribed by the seizure Razzoo Bar & Patio on Bourbon Street. It seems not, for the dress code.
Witnesses said Jones, 26, ended on the sidewalk with four matche Türstehern him. The investigating judge, that Jones’ death was a murder, a finding that the student died in asphyxiation.
Bouncer Brandon Vicknair, 23, testified Wednesday, Jones sucker punched iron in the face as doormen were then faced with Jones’ friends and other spectators.
After hearing Mr. District Judge Raymond Bigelow, please read the judgement, Irons, 43, and rested his head verneigte as prosecutor whispered in his ear. Irons remained in the courtroom as Jones’ parents and our friends, many of them schluchzend.
“I can not believe it. I can not believe,” said Jones’ friend, Glenda Milton.
“At this moment, I am shocked and outraged, what was happening,” Victorial Keel, Levon Jones’ Cousin, “said Louisiana Weekly.” I can not believe what happened. Now, I have to ask what would be justice if everyone is served? It seems to me that this is possible, it is necessary that the facts that doormen are white, and my cousin is black. To be honest, I think that is why it a great thing for the world to know what the jury Make-up race. This man has helped to kill my cousin, and he is acquitted, if the shoe was on the other foot, would obtain the same happen? My family was injured, and I can not begin to tell you that we have a lot of pain. Levon father lost his mother, precisely during the month of February and now, to discover that one of the men who helped to kill her son, was acquitted ….. You can not start arise, as it is touching.
“I hope that the jurors to relax and think, f, go in love, you can go Killer? For once, let’s just put aside the factor, race and think of the lives and loves Levon After he left. What do you when a call for a spring night, and it is 1:35 friends your child to say that your daughter or died? And you discover that she died, because the colour of their skin? Would angry and you want to reply. Do you really know how things are going to lose touch a loved one about some nonsense? It is so sad to know that we live in a world that remains Voit in the color of your skin your destiny, regardless of what is presented. If you are white, you are guilty, but not when you are black, as you are drunk, violent, exuberant, angry person, has been found guilty of what he deserves. It’s not fair I only hope and pray that they are not for you, unless you have about this tragedy. It is something that the jury was composed of 11 whites and one black with two white jurors. Given that this process has so many racial tensions, it would be more fair to have a greater diversification of the jury pool.
“I am only in the pursuit of justice, and I pray and hope that in the next three studies show that the justice system works,” Keel said.
Born in New Orleans in the United States and former candidate Deven Collins, the Senate called Thursday stopping unbelievable.
“Only in America is a videotape of murder is not sufficient for a conviction. This is just happening, race relations in New Orleans as the thinner they are already. Unless l ‘black man does not understand that racism still exists, if for any confusion.
Savwoir Dalton, a spokesman for the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, made a statement, said: “We accept the verdict of the jury, and we focus on the next round of studies.”
In a statement late Thursday, Sydney Arroyo, a spokesman for Razzoo, said: “While the owners and staff are sad Razzoo, a fact, if a tragic loss of life, after four days , the process of obtaining evidence in the conviction that their trial, the jury is not the only culprit, and was impeccable. Given that the events in connection with this incident to continue our justice system pending, we must respect to the absence of any other comments at this time. ”
Despite this statement, the owner Gaetana Razzoo Edin Overhead was placed in the courtroom after the verdict was read, said someone on their mobile phones: “I was very, very good news.”
Defender Ralph Whalen has a comment on the results was the case after the judgement is not to read.
The vote was 10-2 acquired at least 10 votes were required for the jury of 12 people to reach a judgement.
Whalen had arguments at the close Jones had a heart condition, died in cardiac arrest and had a blood alcohol limit nearly double the limit values set by law for the tour.
“And when he could no longer fight and fight, he was released,” said Whalen.
But Assistant Attorney Greg Thompson, asserts that the doormen who “do not bother to listen, as the public, and she pleaded flehte Levon let go.” “If Levon Jones was not in custody during the night, he would still be alive today? That’s all, we must ask you,” said Thompson.
Lawyer Danatus King, the president of the branch of New Orleans by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said Friday morning, “meaning that the race is a who’s still want to be at the head of the town. is at the promotion of defiance to justice, especially when one considers race Make-up of the jury, which, unlike the process by Orleans Parish. It is simply the nature of the race reinforces the problems we have here in the city and highlights Even some of the comments were by Dr. Ed Blakely problems of a racial nature of the city. We are aware that these are real problems of race, and they do not go away. It takes a little work, in the commune for us to reflect Plus.
The king said Louisiana Weekly expects its cases to be discussed Wednesday of the NAACP, the New Orleans branch of encounter.
In addition, with homicide are Clay Montz, 35, and Matthew Taylor, 25 Manslaughter, up to 40 years in prison. The four studies were commissioned from New Orleans, because the general public.