Thursday, May 14, 2015
Man charged with murdering stepfather by way of atomic wedgie pleads guilty to manslaughter
A man from McLoud, Oklahoma, accused of fighting with his stepfather and giving him an “atomic wedgie” that led to his asphyxiation death has pleaded guilty to an amended charge.
Brad Lee Davis, 34, was scheduled for a jury trial on a charge of muder on Monday in Pottawatomie County District Court.
Instead, he entered a guilty plea to the charge of first-degree manslaughter, heat of passion, court records show. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and formal sentencing is now scheduled for July 16. Davis was accused of causing the death of his stepfather, Denver St. Clair, 58, by striking him about the face and head with force and violence on Dec. 21, 2013.
Charges alleged Davis asphyxiated St. Clair by pulling the elastic band from St. Clair’s underwear over his head while the two were involved in an altercation. During a preliminary hearing early on in the case, investigators described the crime scene and how the waistband of the victim’s underwear was stretched around the victim’s neck.
News report from time of the initial incident.
YouTube link.
Investigators also testified that Davis, by his own words, told authorities he gave St. Clair the “atomic wedgie” when St. Clair was unconscious. Another investigator also testified about cell phone photographs Davis allegedly took on his cell phone, some before the “atomic wedgie” had occurred and others after, with the testimony indicating there was evidence of the crime scene being altered. Davis remains jailed without bond in the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center.
Instead, he entered a guilty plea to the charge of first-degree manslaughter, heat of passion, court records show. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and formal sentencing is now scheduled for July 16. Davis was accused of causing the death of his stepfather, Denver St. Clair, 58, by striking him about the face and head with force and violence on Dec. 21, 2013.
Charges alleged Davis asphyxiated St. Clair by pulling the elastic band from St. Clair’s underwear over his head while the two were involved in an altercation. During a preliminary hearing early on in the case, investigators described the crime scene and how the waistband of the victim’s underwear was stretched around the victim’s neck.
News report from time of the initial incident.
YouTube link.
Investigators also testified that Davis, by his own words, told authorities he gave St. Clair the “atomic wedgie” when St. Clair was unconscious. Another investigator also testified about cell phone photographs Davis allegedly took on his cell phone, some before the “atomic wedgie” had occurred and others after, with the testimony indicating there was evidence of the crime scene being altered. Davis remains jailed without bond in the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center.
Woman accused of shooting at husband for not helping with housework
Friends describe a woman from Marysville, Washington, accused of firing a handgun at her husband after he refused to help with housework, as more of a mother than an attempted murderer.
"She wouldn't hurt a bug," said Sherry Hill, one of her neighbours of 20 years. "They are very nice people. I always thought they got along great."
Hill's across-the-street neighbours, Greg and Starlene Roth, had an argument on Saturday when she got frustrated that he "hadn't been able to do anything around the house," according to court papers in the case. Greg had been hospitalised for a medical condition, he told investigators. His wife of more than three decades got upset and threw a glass vase. Starlene then allegedly knocked over a barbeque, which Greg picked up, and later broke the remote control to the television, Greg continued.
His wife then went to the bedroom to get a 9 mm semi-automatic weapon, pointed at his chest, and fired, but missed. He left the house. Starlene is currently in jail on $250,000 bail after a judge found probable cause to hold her for investigation of attempted second-degree murder. "She's really a good person," said Brian Ashbach, Starlene's attorney. "My early impression in the case is just that there was no intent to harm or to shoot at any particular person."
Ashbach described his client as mother to an adult daughter with no violence in her criminal past. State records show a single conviction, for driving under the influence, in Chelan County last year. "I believe it was reflected in the (probable cause affidavit) that she was not trying to shoot her husband," he said. Starlene told investigators she "regret(s) what she did," court papers show. She added that there was no physical violence in the house, that she was sober at the time of the shooting, and she is not mentally ill. Starlene should make another appearance in court later this month. Greg Roth did not want to comment on the case.
With news video.
Hill's across-the-street neighbours, Greg and Starlene Roth, had an argument on Saturday when she got frustrated that he "hadn't been able to do anything around the house," according to court papers in the case. Greg had been hospitalised for a medical condition, he told investigators. His wife of more than three decades got upset and threw a glass vase. Starlene then allegedly knocked over a barbeque, which Greg picked up, and later broke the remote control to the television, Greg continued.
His wife then went to the bedroom to get a 9 mm semi-automatic weapon, pointed at his chest, and fired, but missed. He left the house. Starlene is currently in jail on $250,000 bail after a judge found probable cause to hold her for investigation of attempted second-degree murder. "She's really a good person," said Brian Ashbach, Starlene's attorney. "My early impression in the case is just that there was no intent to harm or to shoot at any particular person."
Ashbach described his client as mother to an adult daughter with no violence in her criminal past. State records show a single conviction, for driving under the influence, in Chelan County last year. "I believe it was reflected in the (probable cause affidavit) that she was not trying to shoot her husband," he said. Starlene told investigators she "regret(s) what she did," court papers show. She added that there was no physical violence in the house, that she was sober at the time of the shooting, and she is not mentally ill. Starlene should make another appearance in court later this month. Greg Roth did not want to comment on the case.
With news video.
Cat cafe faces lawsuit after customer suffered bite from feline
A customer is suing the Denver Cat Company after she says a cat bit her hand and the bite became infected.
Amanda Jamrogiewicz filed the lawsuit on behalf of her mother, Sue Hodges. The two claim they visited the cat cafe back in February and a cat named "Morpheus" bit Hodges.
"[Morpheus] flipped onto his back when my mom still had her hand out," Jamrogiewicz said. "When she was going down to continue petting him, he bit her on her hand rather aggressively and wouldn't let go for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
When she finally got her hand away it was bleeding in about seven or eight different spots," she said.
Jamrogiewicz said her mother was treated for the bite at the counter. But after she got home, she realised it was infected.
She went to an urgent care clinic for treatment and was charged $305. She asked the café to pay the medical bill, but the owner, Sana Hamelin, wouldn't agree to it.
The suit demands $5,920 for the $305 in medical bills plus missed work and emotional toll. "We wouldn't be able to survive as a business model if we were opening ourselves up to taking responsibility for a cat's behaviour, because we can't guarantee that a cat won't bite or scratch," Hamelin said.Hamelin said she did offer to pay part of the bill, but admits people get adequate warning about how unpredictable cats are with signs warning people to "pet at their own risk." "We just let everyone know [petting] is a risk. If they're not willing to take that risk, then they shouldn't pet cats that don't belong to them," she said. "I don't think there's a cat in existence that hasn't bitten or scratched." Jamrogiewicz said her mother missed a week of work because of the infected bite and complications from an antibiotic she was prescribed. She said her mother is the sole provider for the household after her father went on disability because of a brain tumor. "They're under a lot of financial stress," Jamrogiewicz said.
She claims the missed work hurt her parents' finances even more. She said the day of the bite, Hamelin asked if it was Morpheus who bit her mother. Jamrogiewicz claims Hamelin knew he was a dangerous cat and should have been removed from the café. However, Hamelin says that Morpheus was one of the most popular cats in her shop. "He was here for a long time and was very popular with our customers and managed to interact with a lot of people," Hamelin said. Hamelin says after Jamrogiewicz and her mother started asking for compensation for the bite, she told the rescue that provided the cats for the café. That rescue then decided to pull all of their felines from the café for risk. "Because of your claim, the shelter has terminated its relationship with the café," Hamelin wrote in an email to Hodges on March 11. Jamrogiewicz said Hamelin is blaming her mother for losing that rescue, and the accusation is causing emotional stress.
YouTube link.
Hamelin said she agreed to pay more than half of Hodges' medical bills in the beginning, but the family refused to agree to that settlement, demanding the entire total. Jamrogiewicz offered another settlement to Hamelin: if the shop paid her mother's medical bills, Jamrogiewicz would make a donation to a cat rescue for the same amount. Hamelin turned that settlement down and instead offered to make the donation herself in lieu of paying the medical bills. Jamrogiewicz and her mother refused and filed the $6,000 lawsuit in early April. Hamelin was served last week. "I guess a lot of people think this is frivolous, and to us, to be honest, it is too," Jamrogiewicz said. "She should have just paid the $300." Hamelin said she could have just submitted the claim to her insurance, but it was already close enough to the deductible. Also, she worried about her insurance rates going up. She also said she didn't want to create a precedent for others to sue over an issue she clearly warns people about before they walk in. "I'm just a solitary person trying to do this by myself so it's tough to be sued when you're not a big corporation," she said "We're not rolling in money here."
The suit demands $5,920 for the $305 in medical bills plus missed work and emotional toll. "We wouldn't be able to survive as a business model if we were opening ourselves up to taking responsibility for a cat's behaviour, because we can't guarantee that a cat won't bite or scratch," Hamelin said.Hamelin said she did offer to pay part of the bill, but admits people get adequate warning about how unpredictable cats are with signs warning people to "pet at their own risk." "We just let everyone know [petting] is a risk. If they're not willing to take that risk, then they shouldn't pet cats that don't belong to them," she said. "I don't think there's a cat in existence that hasn't bitten or scratched." Jamrogiewicz said her mother missed a week of work because of the infected bite and complications from an antibiotic she was prescribed. She said her mother is the sole provider for the household after her father went on disability because of a brain tumor. "They're under a lot of financial stress," Jamrogiewicz said.
She claims the missed work hurt her parents' finances even more. She said the day of the bite, Hamelin asked if it was Morpheus who bit her mother. Jamrogiewicz claims Hamelin knew he was a dangerous cat and should have been removed from the café. However, Hamelin says that Morpheus was one of the most popular cats in her shop. "He was here for a long time and was very popular with our customers and managed to interact with a lot of people," Hamelin said. Hamelin says after Jamrogiewicz and her mother started asking for compensation for the bite, she told the rescue that provided the cats for the café. That rescue then decided to pull all of their felines from the café for risk. "Because of your claim, the shelter has terminated its relationship with the café," Hamelin wrote in an email to Hodges on March 11. Jamrogiewicz said Hamelin is blaming her mother for losing that rescue, and the accusation is causing emotional stress.
YouTube link.
Hamelin said she agreed to pay more than half of Hodges' medical bills in the beginning, but the family refused to agree to that settlement, demanding the entire total. Jamrogiewicz offered another settlement to Hamelin: if the shop paid her mother's medical bills, Jamrogiewicz would make a donation to a cat rescue for the same amount. Hamelin turned that settlement down and instead offered to make the donation herself in lieu of paying the medical bills. Jamrogiewicz and her mother refused and filed the $6,000 lawsuit in early April. Hamelin was served last week. "I guess a lot of people think this is frivolous, and to us, to be honest, it is too," Jamrogiewicz said. "She should have just paid the $300." Hamelin said she could have just submitted the claim to her insurance, but it was already close enough to the deductible. Also, she worried about her insurance rates going up. She also said she didn't want to create a precedent for others to sue over an issue she clearly warns people about before they walk in. "I'm just a solitary person trying to do this by myself so it's tough to be sued when you're not a big corporation," she said "We're not rolling in money here."
Man charged with breaking into police station
A 36-year-old man from Murwillumbah in New South Wales, Australia, has been charged with breaking and entering and committing malicious damage after smashing down the door of Murwillumbah police station on Tuesday afternoon.
Police allege that at about 5.30pm the man entered the police station, which was at the time unattended. The man is then accused of using force to cause damage to the front door which allowed him to gain entry to the station.
It's alleged he tipped the contents of a number of drawers on the floor at the enquiry counter before leaving the station. No property was taken. The damage was discovered by an off duty police officer later, who was alerted by a member of the public about the incident.
The man was arrested on Wednesday morning at a home and taken to Murwillumbah Police Station where he was charged in relation to the matter. He was given bail and will reappear at Murwillumbah Local Court on May 27.
Police allege that at about 5.30pm the man entered the police station, which was at the time unattended. The man is then accused of using force to cause damage to the front door which allowed him to gain entry to the station.
It's alleged he tipped the contents of a number of drawers on the floor at the enquiry counter before leaving the station. No property was taken. The damage was discovered by an off duty police officer later, who was alerted by a member of the public about the incident.
The man was arrested on Wednesday morning at a home and taken to Murwillumbah Police Station where he was charged in relation to the matter. He was given bail and will reappear at Murwillumbah Local Court on May 27.
Man jailed for attempting to kill his wife with frozen milk
A 48-year-old man from the suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark, was jailed on Monday for trying to kill his wife with a litre of frozen milk.
In the early morning hours of March 29th, the man from Lyngby took a frozen litre of milk out of the freezer, put it in a pillowcase and went in to his sleeping wife.
He laid a sheet over her and then struck her on the head with the milk-laden pillowcase several times. His wife screamed and woke up the couple’s two sleeping boys. As the boys tried to get in to their parents’ bedroom, the wife managed to fight off her husband’s attacks and escape.
While in court on Monday the man claimed to have no recollection of the incident, which he said happened while he was sleepwalking. The judge and 12-person jury disagreed with that line of defence and he was sentenced to six years in prison for attempted murder.
In the early morning hours of March 29th, the man from Lyngby took a frozen litre of milk out of the freezer, put it in a pillowcase and went in to his sleeping wife.
He laid a sheet over her and then struck her on the head with the milk-laden pillowcase several times. His wife screamed and woke up the couple’s two sleeping boys. As the boys tried to get in to their parents’ bedroom, the wife managed to fight off her husband’s attacks and escape.
While in court on Monday the man claimed to have no recollection of the incident, which he said happened while he was sleepwalking. The judge and 12-person jury disagreed with that line of defence and he was sentenced to six years in prison for attempted murder.
Authorities seek thief who rode out of shopping mall on Pooh bear-type children's ride-on toy
Authorities in Belarus are appealing for help to identify a young man who stole a yellow Pooh-bear-type children's electric ride-on toy from a shopping mall in Minsk.
In a statement Minsk Police, who also released surveillance footage from the incident, said: On May 6, at around 22:30pm, in the mall down the street of Kamennogorsk, an unknown young man kidnapped a children's zoomobil worth about 15 million (Belarusian) Rubles (£675, $1,050).
Surveillance cameras captured the man in a blue tracksuit talking on a cell phone before sitting down on a children's electric car. He straddled the bear and pushed his way down the foyer, and then proceeded to the exit from the shopping centre and after on the street.
YouTube link. LiveLeak link.
Riding the same vehicle, the attacker fled towards an unknown direction. If you know the man in the video or have information about his whereabouts, the Frunze district police department of Minsk would like to hear from you.
In a statement Minsk Police, who also released surveillance footage from the incident, said: On May 6, at around 22:30pm, in the mall down the street of Kamennogorsk, an unknown young man kidnapped a children's zoomobil worth about 15 million (Belarusian) Rubles (£675, $1,050).
Surveillance cameras captured the man in a blue tracksuit talking on a cell phone before sitting down on a children's electric car. He straddled the bear and pushed his way down the foyer, and then proceeded to the exit from the shopping centre and after on the street.
YouTube link. LiveLeak link.
Riding the same vehicle, the attacker fled towards an unknown direction. If you know the man in the video or have information about his whereabouts, the Frunze district police department of Minsk would like to hear from you.
Banned driver who drove car while both of his legs were in plaster jailed
A Glasgow man who was banned from driving was caught behind the wheel with both legs encased in plaster, a court has heard.
Richard McAlpine had been disqualified from driving for five years in 2006 and was ordered to re-sit and pass the extended test before getting back behind the wheel.
He failed to do so and on May 27, 2013 took the keys to his aunt's car and drove off in it, even though he was walking with the aid of crutches at the time and had two broken ankles.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard that the 47-year-old had gone to meet members of his family in Neilston, East Renfrewshire, on the day in question but had an argument. In the row that followed, he grabbed the car keys and hobbled off before getting into the vehicle and driving off. Police were informed and intercepted him a short distance away. In court, McAlpine, of Cessnock, Glasgow, admitted driving while disqualified for the third time and also pleaded guilty to having no insurance.
It was stated that the accused had first been disqualified from driving for five years in 2003 then banned again for a similar period in 2005. Defence agent Garvie McCardle said that his client had a fall-out with relatives and in the heat of the moment without thinking, took the car keys and drove, albeit just a short distance. "It was an act of petulance," said the lawyer. Although his period of disqualification had ended, he had failed to sit and pass the extended test as ordered and should not have been driving.
The court was told that McAlpine had formerly owned his own successful taxi operation but lost that business after taking to alcohol following the break-up with his partner. On the day of his latest offence, he had gone to meet members of his family with both legs encased in plaster and walking with the aid of crutches, having sustained those injuries in "a fall from a height." The court was told that he had now built bridges with family members and was hopeful he would move back in with his mother on his release from prison. Sheriff Colin Pettigrew told McAlpine that he only had himself to blame. He banned him for a further five-year period.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard that the 47-year-old had gone to meet members of his family in Neilston, East Renfrewshire, on the day in question but had an argument. In the row that followed, he grabbed the car keys and hobbled off before getting into the vehicle and driving off. Police were informed and intercepted him a short distance away. In court, McAlpine, of Cessnock, Glasgow, admitted driving while disqualified for the third time and also pleaded guilty to having no insurance.
It was stated that the accused had first been disqualified from driving for five years in 2003 then banned again for a similar period in 2005. Defence agent Garvie McCardle said that his client had a fall-out with relatives and in the heat of the moment without thinking, took the car keys and drove, albeit just a short distance. "It was an act of petulance," said the lawyer. Although his period of disqualification had ended, he had failed to sit and pass the extended test as ordered and should not have been driving.
The court was told that McAlpine had formerly owned his own successful taxi operation but lost that business after taking to alcohol following the break-up with his partner. On the day of his latest offence, he had gone to meet members of his family with both legs encased in plaster and walking with the aid of crutches, having sustained those injuries in "a fall from a height." The court was told that he had now built bridges with family members and was hopeful he would move back in with his mother on his release from prison. Sheriff Colin Pettigrew told McAlpine that he only had himself to blame. He banned him for a further five-year period.
Police used crime scene tape to protect the public from swarm of bees
Police used crime scene cordon tape around an area of grassland to protect people from a swarm of bees.
The swarm emanated from what appeared to be a nest in a tree in Chichester, West Sussex, at about 11.40am on Monday
A beekeeper was called, who placed a hive basket on the ground, and the area was cordoned off until all the bees had settled in their new home, which was then safely taken away from the area.
Passers-by were stopping and gazing at the basket which had been left on the ground, after their attention was drawn by the police tape.
The swarm emanated from what appeared to be a nest in a tree in Chichester, West Sussex, at about 11.40am on Monday
A beekeeper was called, who placed a hive basket on the ground, and the area was cordoned off until all the bees had settled in their new home, which was then safely taken away from the area.
Passers-by were stopping and gazing at the basket which had been left on the ground, after their attention was drawn by the police tape.
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