Day 3: Prosecution Rests; Final Arguments ThursdayThe prosecution decided not to bring a rebuttal witness, instead electing to submit another police report instead. (Details of police report to come.) The prosecution rested. The judge announced that final arguments will be at 10 a.m. Thursday. At 8:30 …
[Collier] Connect the DotsThe folks at WJTV must have been particularly bored April 16. In what was presumably an attempt to localize the Virginia Tech tragedy, WJTV reported live from the Jackson State campus and paralleled the 1970 school shooting that occurred at …
Day 3: Stokes Testifies; Defense RestsThe defense elected to call only one more witness this afternoon—Councilman Kenneth Stokes. Under direct questioning by Melton attorney Dale Danks, Stokes said he had lodged complaints about drugs in the Ridgeway Street area. "We were asking for help, from …
Red And Ready To Rumble: The JFP Interview With Charlie RossSen. Charlie Ross, R-Brandon, is confident this year. The 50-year-old senator is running for lieutenant governor against State Auditor Phil Bryant in the primaries, and possibly against Democratic Rep. Jamie Franks of Hernando in the November general elections.
Toni CooleyToni Cooley was born in Chicopee, Mass., but was raised as an Air Force brat in Massachusetts, North Dakota, New Jersey, Mississippi and New Jersey again.
Day 3: Police Officers TestifyTwo police officers testified for the defense this morning. First was Sharon Gray, a 27 year veteran of the force who has spent the last five years as a records custodian. Second was Brendan Bell, a narcotics detective. At around …
Day 3: Jury May Have Case by Noon TodayWord from the courthouse is that the judge may send the case to the jury by noon today. So far, defense attorneys have put no witnesses in front of the jury and may not be able to.
Day 3: Defense Down to 2 Witnesses, If ThatAfter examining their witness list, based on the judge's limitations on discussion of past drug activity on Ridgeway Street, defense attorneys' acceptable list of witnesses has dropped to only two witnesses—drug users Tammy Callahan and another female—and the jury may …
Day 3: No to ‘Confidential Informant'; Only Pot FoundThis morning, without the jury present, attorneys for the Melton defense team called a "confidential informant," who used the name Russell Smith (not his real name). Under direct examination, he said that he had worked as a confidential informant for …
Day 3: Judge Limits Defense OptionsAs attorneys for Mayor Frank Melton prepared to mount their defense today, prosecutors protested to the judge that the defense had not provided adequate discovery on some of its witnesses. Judge Joe Webster ruled that all testimony about drug activity …
Day 2: Prosecution RestsThe prosecution in the felony trial of Mayor Frank Melton and police detectives Michael Recio and Marcus Wright rested late Tuesday afternoon, after a multitude of witnesses described how the men had demolished the duplex on Ridgeway.
Day 2: Many Objections, Eye Witnesses at Melton TrialAfter Senior Assistant District Attorney Stanley Alexander finished redirect of Lawrence Cooper Jr. in the felony trial of Mayor Frank Melton Tuesday morning, Judge Joe Webster called a brief recess. When attorneys returned, Webster lectured outside the presence of the …
Day 2: ‘No Drugs to Flush,' Witness SaysLawrence Cooper Jr., who was the first witness for the prosecution in Mayor Frank Melton's felony trial, said the incident began when he heard people outside the duplex say, "The folks are coming," which is code for the police. Alexander …
Day 2: Welch Watching ‘Walking Tall' Before AttackIn the opening statements and first testimony in the Mississippi v. Melton et al. trial, prosecutor Stanley Alexander came out of the gate with a focus on the events of Aug. 25, 2006, when he promised to show that Frank …
Day 1: JFP Blogs Figure Prominently in Voir DireOn Monday, defense attorney Merrida Coxwell Jr. conducted voir dire for Melton. In his second question, he asked if any potential juror read or made comments on media blogs, specifically the Jackson Free Press. One prospective juror said he had …