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Witnesses testify that two defendants were not involved in the fatal knife attack at party. Date published: 2/1/2006
By BILL FREEHLING UPDATE: Four JM football players, once facing felony charges, were convicted of misdemeanor assault and received community service sentences.
Two James Monroe High School students charged in connection with the Jan. 20 slaying of a Courtland High School junior were denied bond yesterday in Spotsylvania County. Circuit Judge Ann Hunter Simpson denied the bond requests of two suspects, both 16 years old. Each had appealed Juvenile Court Judge Joseph J. Ellis' earlier decisions denying them bond. Simpson's decision came despite testimony from two girls attending the party that one of the teens did not take part in the attack that left Courtland High student Baron P. Braswell II dead. In addition, attorneys John Spencer, who represents one suspect, and Eugene Frost, who represents another, argued that their clients had nothing to do with Braswell's death and that witnesses would testify to that. Two girls, age 13 and 17, who attended the party testified that two defendants were with them when the fight broke out. The girls said that neither boy was involved in the fight. The two teens will continue being held at the Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center along with the other four juveniles charged in connection with the stabbing death of the 16-year-old Braswell. Fredericksburg resident Marvin M. Parker II is charged with first-degree murder; police say he is the only suspect in the stabbing. Parker also is charged with conspiracy to commit assault by mob, assault by mob and participation in a street gang. The other five boys, all of whom are football players at James Monroe, are accused of playing a role in Braswell being punched to the floor, kicked and stomped. Those boys are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit malicious wounding by mob, malicious wounding by mob and participation in a street gang. Judge Simpson kept yesterday morning's bond hearing--which Braswell's parents attended--open to the public. One teen has a bond hearing scheduled for this morning. Another suspect's father told the judge his son has never had problems with the law.
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