The body of Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney, the 3-year-old girl who was abducted in Birmingham on Oct. 12, was found inside of a dumpster at a landfill, Police Chief Patrick Smith said Tuesday night. Patrick Stallworth and Derick Brown have been charged with capital murder and kidnapping in connection with her death. Our prayers and thoughts go out to Kamille’s entire family.
Developing
A black woman was shot and killed by police inside her own home early Saturday morning in Fort Worth, Texas, after her neighbor called a non-emergency police number for a wellness check on her. Atatiana Koquice Jefferson, 28, was killed in a bedroom at the home at around 2:30 a.m., according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner.
A recent post by Juanita Baker is making its way around social media. She alleges that Eric O. Darko raped her on May 10, 2017.
Darko was indicted by a Maryland Grand Jury on August 21, 2018, where he is being charged with Rape in the Second Degree, Second Degree Sex Offense and Assault in the Second Degree.
Under Maryland law, Rape in the Second Degree is defined as:
(1) by force, or the threat of force, without the consent of the other;
(2) if the victim is a mentally defective individual, a mentally incapacitated individual, or a physically helpless individual, and the person performing the act knows or reasonably should know that the victim is a mentally defective individual, a mentally incapacitated individual, or a physically helpless individual; or
(3) if the victim is under the age of 14 years, and the person performing the act is at least 4 years older than the victim.
(b) A person 18 years of age or older may not violate subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section involving a child under the age of 13 years.
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the second degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.
(2) (i) Subject to subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, a person 18 years of age or older who violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of the felony of rape in the second degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not less than 15 years and not exceeding life.
(ii) A court may not suspend any part of the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
(iii) The person is not eligible for parole during the mandatory minimum sentence.
(iv) If the State fails to comply with subsection (d) of this section, the mandatory minimum shall not apply.
(d) If the State intends to seek a sentence of imprisonment for not less than 15 years under subsection (c)(2) of this section, the State shall notify the person in writing of the State’s intention at least 30 days before trial.
Darko is being represented by the PG County Public Defenders, and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, Darko could be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
The Plaintiff, Latoya Coner, on behalf of her minor son (“S.M.”), sued Former Baltimore City Police Officers Duane Earl Williams, Jr., and others, for an unprovoked attack at a Baltimore City Hospital.
On January 14, 2015, Baltimore City Police Officers escorted a handcuffed S.M., 14 years old at the time, to Sinai Hospital, in Baltimore for a mental health evaluation, based on allegations that he had assaulted a teacher, and comporting himself in an aggressive & unruly manner. S.M., was allegedly combative, and also disrespectful to hospital personnel. The jury found that Former Officer Williams struck S.M. 10 to 15 times, resulting in him loosing hearing in his left ear, while S.M. was handcuffed to a hospital bed. The jury found that after slapping the teen more than a dozen of times, Former Officer Williams informed hospital personnel that they would not have any more trouble from S.M.
Former Officer Williams was subsequently indicted and convicted on September 26, 2016 of Assault in the Second Degree and Misconduct in Office. He received a suspended 10-year sentence and is on probation until September 26, 2019.
Former Officer Williams beating left the teen with permanent damage to his ear resulting in him having wear a hearing aid. On July 11, 2019, the Jury returned a verdict of $100,000. This amount will increase once attorneys’ A. Dwight Pettit and Latoya Francis-Williams, files their Motion for Attorneys Fees and cost.
Former Officer Williams is attempting to atone for the beating of S.M., by becoming a motivational and inspirational speaker to at-risk youth. According to his website, “he is a mentor, activist and coach who has dedicated himself to the youth with empowering them spiritually and naturally. Duane is very passionate about healthy development for the youth to prepare them for their future and equipping them with the tools to succeed”.
This verdict should serve as a continued reminder that no one is above the law. Baltimore Juries are no longer allowing Police Officers who violate its citizens rights behavior to go unchecked. On August 9, 2019, another former Baltimore City Police Officer, Arthur Williams, was sentenced to 9 months in prison, for the unprovoked assault on an African american male.
On May 16, 2018, Aaron Morris Schlossberg, a New York Lawyer, was recorded in a racist tirade directed to employees of a store he was visiting, who were speaking Spanish. Interestingly, Mr. Schlossberg, also speaks Spanish, French and two other languages according to his website.
As a business lawyer, Mr. Schlossberg represents a number of businesses in litigation and other disputes in court. One of those businesses, Niche Music Group LLC, and one of their Managing Members, Attorney Jonathan P. Clunies, Esq, filed suit on January 3, 2019, in the Supreme Court for the State if New York. Niche and Clunies, alleges, among other things, that, “Schlossberg’s propensity for public racist outbursts was unknown to Niche until May 16, 2018”. The Complaint goes on to state that “Schlossberg owed a duty to Niche to conduct himself in public in such a way as to not discredit himself or his clients”. In addition, “In committing his public racist outburst Schlossberg failed to exercise the ordinarily reasonably skill an knowledge commonly possessed by a member of the legal profession”.
I will continue to follow the case and post updates.
See Complaint Below:
See video
John Hernandez
Hello good people. I’ve been unable to follow trials and news daily to write blog posts about them. As it stands now, I’m unsure if and when I’ll return to writing blog posts on a regular basis. My last chemo treatment is scheduled for February, and then I’ll be on targeted immunotherapy for a year, so we’ll see how I’ll feel come March of next year.
There is much happeningand I wanted to bullet point some things. As and if time allows, I’ll post updates in the comment section below. Feel free to do the same.
Terry Thompson and his wife Chauna were charged with murder for the May 28, 2017, choke-hold death of John Hernandez in Crosby, Texas. Terry was put on trial in July 2018 and the jury hung. His retrial began in October 2018. The jury found Terry guilty and sentenced him to 25 years. …
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GET WELL SOON XENA@BLACKBUTTERFLY7
Last week I had my first cycle of chemo for Stage IV breast cancer. The results of the PET Scan were not as bad as expected. I do have Stage IV breast cancer, but that’s because it has moved to the lymph nodes underneath both arms. No cancer cells were found in my organs nor bones.
That doesn’t mean it won’t spread because my insurance company is denying my oncologist the drug that stops division of the cancer cells.
Also this week, as friends and families educate themselves to help me get through this, I’ve found that I have to keep reminding them that there are different types of breast cancer cells. As my friends and family talk to cancer survivors and read things online about breast cancer, survival rates, etc. it’s important for them to remember that breast cancer has different cells. The type of cells are important for…
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Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke was found guilty Friday of second-degree murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of Black, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. You can click here to read more background on this case.
Van Dyke was also found guilty of 16 counts of aggravated battery; one for each bullet he sent into the 17-year old’s body. He was found not guilty of official misconduct. Second-degree murder usually carries a sentence of less than 20 years. In Illinois, aggravated battery with a firearm carries a minimum sentence of 6 years, and a maximum penalty of 30 to 60 years.
While probation is allowed for second-degree murder, it is not allowed for the Class X felony of aggravated battery using a firearm.
Van Dyke took the witness stand on Tuesday, and on cross-examination was asked about a statement he made to his partner as they approached the shooting scene: “Oh my…
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17-year old Laquan McDonald was killed by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke on October 20, 2014. Van Dyke was not arrested until a judge set a date for the release of dash cam video. That was in November 2015.
Van Dyke’s murder trial began the first week of September 2018 with jury selection. Twelve jurors and 5 alternatives have been selected. The jury consists of one Black woman, and two Blacks as alternatives.
On Thursday, September 20, 2018, the prosecution rested its case. Van Dyke’s defense will now be presented to the jury.
Following the trial has been difficult for me due to personal matters, but I do plan on blogging the verdict. Meanwhile, I have copied the post originally published in November 2015 because it contains background on what happened, including that without the intervention of Brandon Smith, an independent journalist, Van Dyke might not have been charged.
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Breaking News
Today, a Maryland Court of Special Appeals (“COSP”), affirmed the conviction of Former Police Officer Keith Washington (the “Defendant”), who, according to court records, was convicted for the senseless murder of Marlo Furniture worker Brandon Clark and for shooting Clark’s co-worker, Robert White. Defendant Washington purchased a bed from Marlo Furniture which was delivered to his Maryland residence in December, 2006. The bed rails, however, were defective and either Defendant or Mrs. spouse requested replacements. Marlo agreed to do so and arrangements were made to deliver the new bed rails on January 24, 2007, between 2:30 and 5:30 pm. Defendant took off from work to be at home when the delivery arrived.
When the bed rails were not delivered during the specified time frame, defendant called Marlo to inquire about the delivery. After several phone calls, defendant was notified that the rails would be arriving around 7:30 p.m. At about that time, Brandon Clark (the “decedent”) and Mr. White, two furniture deliverymen, arrived at the Defendant’s residence with the bed rails. Defendant met Clark at the door. Unbeknownst to Clark or White, defendant had a handgun tucked into his waistband. White and the decedent, accompanied by defendant, carried the bed rails to the master bedroom on the second floor. A few minutes later, defendant shot both the decedent and White. White was severely injured and Clark died nine days later from complications related to his wounds. Defendant was found guilty of murdering Clark because of an unprovoked argument. Defendant, also refused to call for medical assistance after shooting Clark and White. The Defendant argued at trial that he was being physically accosted by Clark and White and that he shot them in self-defense. At trial, the State presented evidence that, on the night of the murder, the Defendant had no bruises or fractures, which is interesting, because the Defendant argued that Clark and White almost beat him to death. The Defendant’s wife also testified at trial that she witnessed Clark and White beating her husband.
The jury did not find credible the Defendant’s version of events and on February 13, 2008, they convicted him of involuntary manslaughter, among others. In this appeal, the Court found that Defendant’s attorney represented his interest and that there was no basis for an argument of ineffective assistance of counsel.
The Defendant is presently serving 45 years in prison for the murder.
SUPABUTTERFLY 
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