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scope it out for February 9, 2010

Posted on Feb 08, 2010 in News

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Ala. appeals court says teeth not deadly weapon
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama appellate court has ruled that human teeth can’t be considered a dangerous instrument or deadly weapon when used to injure someone.
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has reversed the conviction and life prison sentence of Oscar Levell McMillian of first-degree domestic violence. He was convicted in Mobile County Circuit Court of biting his girlfriend’s eyeball out of the socket during an argument, leaving her blind in one eye.
The appeals court on Friday ruled 5-0 that a “deadly weapon or dangerous instrument’’ must be used for a person to be convicted of first degree domestic violence. The appeals court said the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled in a earlier case that human body parts can’t be considered a deadly weapon.
 

Ala. 9th-grader shot in head by `calm’ teen

MADISON, Ala. (AP) — Students in a middle school hallway when a ninth-grader was shot to death said a classmate came up from behind, fired a gun into the back of his head and calmly walked off as panic erupted and classrooms were locked down.

The fatal shooting of 14-year-old Todd Brown on Friday afternoon set off mourning among Discovery Middle School’s students, with a weekend of prayer groups, counseling and a town meeting planned to deal with the grief.

Police said another ninth-grader, also 14, was arrested by a school officer and taken into custody, where he was charged with murder after Brown was pronounced dead at a hospital Friday night. Held in a juvenile detention center, the suspect’s name was not immediately released.

Students huddled and hid in darkened rooms after the shooting during a class change, fearing more bloodshed. But the suspect reportedly went to a bathroom, where he was arrested without incident.

The motive in the shooting wasn’t immediately clear. Police Chief Larry Muncey said there were rumors that an Internet posting may have been connected to the shooting, but described it as “hearsay’’ and the investigation was continuing.

Discovery student Aaron Sims said he witnessed the shooting from about eight feet away and at first “didn’t think anything was up.’’

“I saw (the shooter) and he walks up, and he’s very calm,’’ Sims, 15, told the Huntsville Times.

“He came up from behind Todd, pulled the gun out of his jacket pocket, put it to the back of his head and shot it,’’ Sims said. “Then he lowered the gun, cocked it again and walked away like nothing happened … creepy.’’
 

Auburn considers cutting cost of naming rights

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn University is considering slashing the cost of naming rights to some of its new campus buildings.

Jeff McNeill, vice president for development, says the economy is forcing the school to weigh cutting the cost by up to 75 percent.

McNeill says the new residence halls at Auburn cost $8 million to $9 million each to build and that naming rights usually go for about half the price of construction.

But school officials are considering offering your name on new student dorms for $1 million and a new dining hall for $3 million.

Naming rights for the new neighborhood that houses the buildings could cost $5 million.
 

Alabama court sides with governor on casino raid

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Gov. Bob Riley’s gambling task force has won another victory.

The Alabama Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision late Thursday afternoon that tossed out a court order blocking a raid on the state’s largest casino last week.

The governor called it a victory for the rule of law.

Task force commander John Tyson would not disclose his next move.

But an attorney for VictoryLand in Shorter said Tyson and the task force would be trespassing if they tried to enter the closed business without a search warrant.
 

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