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Teen to be tried as adult in Braswell case; All gang-related charges dismissed by judge
Teenager accused of killing Spotsylvania County boy will be tried as an adultDate published: 4/29/2006 The teenager accused of murdering a Courtland High School student in January will be tried as an adult, Spotsylvania County Juvenile Judge Joseph J. Ellis decided yesterday. Ellis found probable cause to support a first-degree murder charge against 17-year-old Fredericksburg resident Marvin M. Parker II. Parker is accused of stabbing 16-year-old Baron Braswell II to death Jan. 20 at a CD-release party at Spotsylvania's Howard Johnson hotel. A preliminary hearing was held yesterday for Parker and five James Monroe High School students charged with attacking Braswell at the party. Each defendant had been accused of participating in a street gang, but those charges were dismissed at yesterday's hearing. Also yesterday, JM student Jamel Brooks was cleared of the remaining charge of attempted malicious wounding. Brooks is now free and clear. The remaining JM students--P.J. Hayden, Lance Durante, Devin Bates and Robin Spinner--will return to court Monday. Defense attorneys will present their cases, seeking to have a felony charge of attempted malicious wounding dismissed or reduced to a misdemeanor. Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney William Neely opened his case yesterday by telling Ellis that the cases against Parker and the five JM students were "two separate and distinct crimes." The JM students were accused of kicking and stomping Braswell during a fight, but Parker alone is accused of the fatal stabbing. Braswell's father testified yesterday that he allowed his son to go to the party in the Howard Johnson conference room because the Courtland junior had recently made the honor roll. The party was a reward. Braswell spent ample time beforehand flossing, brushing and getting himself ready to dance and meet girls, his father said. Dehin P. Vaughn testified that her son's band--named Klyentell Entertainment--threw the party to help market its new rap album. They booked the room, and she helped with security that night. Party attendees paid $5 to get in and went through a metal detector. Vaughn said she doesn't know how the knife got inside. Spotsylvania Deputy R.P. Pittman was called to the hotel about 11:30 that night. Braswell was on the ground bleeding and struggling to breathe when he arrived. Other teenagers were "piling out" of the conference room, Pittman said.
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 4/29/2006
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