Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY
P. 6
A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 6 september
Mayor: St. Louis ‘on edge’ awaiting police shooting verdict
By JIM SALTER old Michael Brown, who
Associated Press was black and unarmed,
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The may- was fatally shot by white
or of St. Louis says the city officer Darren Wilson in Fer-
is “on edge” as it awaits a guson, Missouri. The shoot-
verdict in the first-degree ing and a grand jury’s de-
murder trial of former po- cision not to indict Wilson
lice officer Jason Stockley, led to months of racially
in part because of a trou- charged protests.
bled history of justice in St. “The worry and anxiety
Louis and nationwide. we are feeling today is
Stockley is accused of fa- not without cause, and it
tally shooting Anthony La- did not start with Fergu-
mar Smith in 2011. The case son,” Krewson said. “It has
was heard last month, but its roots in the story of our
it’s unclear when Judge country. I hope we will all
Timothy Wilson will issue a learn more about the laws
verdict. and policies that closed
Activists have threatened the doors for some, while
civil disobedience if Stock- leaving them open for
ley, who is white, is acquit- others.”Stockley and his
ted in the death of Smith, partner saw Smith involved
who was black. In this Aug. 28, 2017 photo, activists gather outside the St. Louis courthouse where former police in what they thought was a
“We’re all on edge be- officer Jason Stockley’s murder trial was heard. The mayor of St. Louis says the city is “on edge” as drug transaction at a fast-
cause we have watched, it awaits a verdict in the first-degree murder trial of former police officer Stockley, in part because food parking lot in Decem-
in this country and in our of a troubled history of justice in the region and nationwide. ber 2011. Smith sped away,
region, that legal deci- (AP Photo/Jim Salter) nearly striking the officers.
sions can and do result in families and sometimes entire communities being left without a sense of jus- After a chase, Stockley
tice,” Mayor Lyda Krewson shot Smith while Smith was
said in a statement and still in his car.
video. “That can and has Stockley testified that Smith
resulted in protests and had a gun, but prosecu-
demonstrations.”The St. tors alleged that Stockley
Louis region was in the spot- planted the weapon found
light in 2014 when 18-year- in the car. q
Protection order named mother
of boy found dead in concrete
By ROXANA HEGEMAN conducted surveillance
Associated Press and contacted neighbors
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A in an effort to locate the
boy whose body was found boy’s mother, Miranda
encased in concrete in a Miller, 35, who was named
Wichita rental home is be- in a protection from abuse
lieved to be that the son of order issued in July. Police
a woman named in an or- concluded she was elud-
der seeking to protect him ing law enforcement and
from abuse, police said had likely left the state.
Tuesday. Last week, Miranda Miller
Wichita police Lt. Jeff Gilm- was arrested on suspicion
ore told reporters that the of aggravated interfer-
body found Saturday in the ence with parental cus-
rental home is likely that tody, and her 40-year-old
of 3-year-old Evan Brew- boyfriend, Stephen Bodine,
er, though authorities are was arrested on suspicion
awaiting DNA results for fi- of an aggravated assault
nal confirmation. charge. No one has been
The boy’s father, Carlo charged in connection
Brewer, contacted state with the boy’s death.
officials and local police Miller’s attorney in the child
over the welfare of his son, custody case, Julia Craft,
who at the time was living didn’t immediately return
with his mother and her a phone message from The
boyfriend. Associated Press.
“Child deaths are always The father’s petition for a
difficult cases,” Gilmore protection from abuse or-
said. “The circumstances der on behalf of the boy
surrounding this case have details multiple reports of
been difficult for family, first abuse dating back more
responders and the com- than a year made to the
munity.” Kansas Department for
Gilmore said authorities Children and Families. q
