Posted on 03/14/2008 8:47:06 AM PDT by maggief
DURHAM - A 17-year-old charged with killing a UNC-Chapel Hill student leader and a graduate student at Duke University appeared this morning before a Durham County judge who delivered a call for anti-gang legislation.
Laurence Alvin Lovette appeared stone-faced before District Court Judge Craig Brown, who used the hearing to urge legislators to pass laws to fight gangs.
"We absolutely positively need to have anti-gang legislation passed by the General Assembly," Brown said. "I respectfully and sincerely ask the governor to call a special session of the legislature."
Authorities have not said whether Lovette was a member of a gang. There was speculation early in the investigation that a suspect in a surveillance photo was wearing a cap suggesting gang affiliation.
Lovette was in court to be officially informed of the murder and robbery charges in the shooting of Abhijit Mahato, a doctoral student at Duke. Brown set Lovette's bond at $3 million and appointed the Durham Public Defender's Office to represent him.
From the bench, Brown also chided the media, saying they were focusing on the case because one of the victims was a young, white woman. Black crime victims, he said, don't get nearly as much attention.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsobserver.com ...
Will the perp walk?
The Wichita murders was the scariest, most vile murder spree in a long time.
Gads, the piece of garbage is only 17 and he has already killed two people and removed (a) an Indian PhD student in engineering who would no doubt have been a valuable member or even leader of his much needed profession, here or in India; and (b) a young woman who was clearly a leader and could have contributed much to the life of our society. And the judge seems to think that too much attention is being paid to the victims and coverage is too harsh towards the thug?
Lovette? Nah. They’ve got too much evidence against him and the other guy. They’ll end up as guests of the State of North Carolina for the rest of their natural lives. NC does have the death penalty, but all executions are on hold right now because the state chapter of the AMA has barred doctors from witnessing them—they say it’s a violation of their oath and the drugs given cause the executee too much discomfort when they ride the needle. So chances are pretty good that Atwater and Lovette will get life without parole.
}:-)4
He’s right. Whenever a pretty, young white girl is murdered, cable news is all over it.
The media has ruled that reporting "black on black" crime is racist. Even talking about it can earn a person the label "racist".
Black on black crime/murders do get a lot of local coverage, I find. At least in this area when an innocent victim is involved. I think the operative word there is innocent. Sometimes it even makes national news when a child is killed, or someone not involved gets caught in the crossfire between other scumbags. I think most decent Americans are as outraged over this as they are when whites are victimized, no matter who the assailant is.
Often there is less outrage when there is a domestic dispute, or one guy kills his “friend,” or if there is some gang or drug related crime. It is only natural that this kind of incident *not* be given the same amount of attention as a case like the Carson murder. That was more evil because an innocent defenseless young woman was victimized. And again I think decent people would be every bit as outraged if she were non white.
As far as media coverage goes, what is this gashead judge talking about?? How should that affect his rulings in any way? Almost sounds like he thinks the defendant deserves sympathy. Then the lefties wonder why they get a soft on crime reputation.
“...A gay couple’s lawsuit against Durham County, N.C., for denying them a marriage license was dismissed Monday by a district court judge. Judge Craig Brown agreed with the county attorney, saying the case involved constitutional questions that more properly belong in superior court, where judges have greater authority than in district court. “Judges don’t make the law,” Brown said. “The legislature makes law, and judges interpret it...”
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail.asp?id=5468
Well, he isn’t totally stupid.
"We absolutely positively need to have anti-gang legislation passed by the General Assembly," Brown said. "I respectfully and sincerely ask the governor to call a special session of the legislature."
You bet judge!
We also need legislation against Murder, Rape, Robbery, Breaking and Entering, Theft .... Hey! Wait a minute?!?!?
STOO-PID™ 'judge'.
Except perhaps this one:
This hearing was regarding murder charges in the shooting of Abhijit Mahato. Why was the judge making comments about the media’s attention in the Eve Carson case?
(ps. I know why.)
Know how they pinned Lovette to the Mahado murder? They found Mahado’s cellphone and iPod in Lovette’s house when they got him. He had been using Mahado’s cellphone since the January murder—in fact, it had Atwater’s number on it.
That’s what I heard on the 3:00 news blurb on local radio.
}:-)4
Killer shot Duke grad student in head
The Duke University graduate student found slain in his off-campus apartment in January was shot point-blank between the eyes by a killer who wrapped a gun in a pillow and pressed it up against his victim's head.
The details of Abhijit Mahato’s death were revealed in an autopsy report released today by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Mahato, 29, an engineering graduate student from Bengal, India, was found fatally shot Jan. 18 during what Durham police have called a citywide robbery spree.
Two men have been charged with first-degree murder in the case, including Laurence Alvin Lovette Jr., the 17-year-old also charged in the March 5 homicide of Eve Carson, the UNC-Chapel Hill student body president.
Assistant District Attorney Tracey Cline offered new details in court today about how police connected Lovette to Mahato’s killing.
She said investigators discovered that Mahato’s stolen cell phone was used to call Demario James Atwater — Lovette’s co-defendant in the killing of Carson. Atwater, 21, of Durham has not been charged in Mahato’s death.
Cline also said that other property belonging to Mahato was found in Lovette’s possession. And a vehicle tied to Mahato’s slaying was seen at a residence frequented by Lovette, she said.
Lovette was in Durham District Court this morning for a first appearance on the murder and robbery charges in the shooting of Mahato and a series of unrelated charges, including larceny, threats and robbery. Judge Craig Brown set Lovette’s bond at $3 million and appointed the Durham Public Defender's Office to represent him.
(snip)
I hope this vicious beast (Lovette) is put to death. He's rabid.
Actually, I hope he's put some place where he can be preached at morning, noon and night, and somebody makes him a Christian and he understands the horrible things he has done and repents. That would be the best scenario.
But the state doesn't allow that.
An eye for an eye....a tooth for a tooth....
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