North Carolina
Prosecutor seeks death for suspect in killing Muslims
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Prosecutors plan to seek the death sentence for a man accused of killing three Muslim students in Chapel Hill last month.
District attorney Roger Echol filed papers in court that show he plans to seek the death sentence if Craig Stephen Hicks is convicted of first-degree murder.
Hicks has been charged with killing 23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat; his wife, 21-year-old Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha; and her sister, 19-year-old Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, on Feb. 10.
Police say the shootings were over a long-running dispute over parking at the condominium complex. The victims' families have said religious bias played a prominent role in the shootings.
A hearing is set for next month on Echol's request to seek the death penalty if Hicks is convicted.
Alabama
Judge opens jury selection in girl's death to public
GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) - A judge has reversed himself and will allow the public to attend jury selection for an Alabama woman charged in her granddaughter's running death.
A spokeswoman says Etowah County Circuit Judge Billy Ogletree granted a defense request Tuesday to open the jury selection process to jurors.
Attorneys for 59-year-old Joyce Hardin Garrard protested after Ogletree closed the courtroom for the first day of juror questioning Monday.
Authorities say Garrard killed 9-year-old Savannah Hardin by forcing her to run for hours as punishment for a lie.
Garrard says she's innocent.
Jury selection is typically done in open court, and the defense said excluding the public was unconstitutional.
Attorneys are scheduled to continue questioning potential jurors through Wednesday.
Virginia
Defense seeks delay in trial over student's death
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Attorneys for the man charged with abducting and killing a University of Virginia student are asking a judge to delay his trial.
Media outlets report that Jesse Matthew Jr.'s lawyers filed a motion for a continuance Monday. They also asked the state to provide a DNA expert.
Albemarle County Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins is expected to consider the requests at a hearing Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Matthew is charged in 18-year-old Hannah Graham's death. His trial on charges of abduction with intent to defile and first-degree murder is scheduled to begin June 29.
Matthew also faces trial June 8 on charges of attempted murder and sexual assault in Fairfax County.
Authorities also say forensic evidence links Matthew to slain Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington. He has not been charged in that case.
Rhode Island
Inaccurate date rape drug test performed
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Brown University says an unidentified laboratory performed an inaccurate test to determine whether a female student was drugged at a fraternity party on campus.
The Providence Journal reports that the lab initially reported a urine sample taken from the student tested positive for GHB, a central nervous system depressant referred to as a "date rape" drug.
University administrators said in an open letter that the laboratory recanted its findings after outside medical experts challenged the results.
The university has dropped its inquiry into drugging allegations by two female students who attended a party by Phi Kappa Psi last Oct. 17. The Rhode Island chapter of Phi Kappa Psi says no members served a spiked drink to either of the young women and challenged the laboratory's test results.
Missouri
Man, 88, pleads guilty to fatally stabbing wife, 86
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - An 88-year-old central Missouri man has pleaded guilty in the stabbing death of his 86-year-old wife.
The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that Donald Rowland pleaded guilty in Boone County Circuit Court on Monday to first-degree involuntary manslaughter. His sentencing has been scheduled for April 13.
Rowland was originally charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of his wife, Betty Rowland, but prosecutors reduced those charges last month.
Authorities have said an adult daughter called police after going to the couple's home in Columbia in October and finding her parents together in bed, both with stab wounds.
Police say Rowland told officers he killed his wife and tried to take his own life, because he didn't want them to be a burden on their family.
Maryland
Parents who let kids walk alone to appeal in case
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - A Maryland couple says Child Protective Services will keep a file on them for five years after they let their children walk home from a park without an adult.
Danielle and Alexander Meitiv told local news outlets that despite learning in a letter last week that they've been found responsible for unsubstantiated child neglect, they'll still let their 10-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter walk by themselves. They plan to appeal the finding.
Officials began investigating in December when police officers picked up the children walking back to their Silver Spring home. The couple says they're teaching self-reliance.
Officials declined to comment on the case, but say an unsubstantiated finding is made when there's some information supporting child neglect, seemingly credible reports disagree or there isn't enough information for a conclusion.
California
Photo teacher found dead in classroom
PLACENTIA, Calif. (AP) - A Southern California teacher who committed suicide by hanging herself in her classroom was a well-liked 31-year-old photography instructor, authorities said Monday.
Students arriving at El Dorado High School found Jillian Jacobson's classroom door locked, Placentia police Lt. Eric Point said. Thinking she was late, they went next door to get another teacher, who returned with them and opened the door.
Jacobson was found hanging from the ceiling.
Two school staff members got Jacobson down and called 911, Point said. Paramedics who responded performed CPR but were unable to revive her. Point said no suicide note was found but detectives believe she did take her own life.
Jacobson had taught at El Dorado since 2008.
Published: Wed, Mar 04, 2015
