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http://www.goupstate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060815/NEWS/608150338/1051/NEWS01
Teen in lynching case says he knew nothing about suspects' motives
LYNNE P. SHACKLEFORD, Cherokee County Bureau
Published August 15, 2006
GAFFNEY -- Christopher Twamley told jurors Monday he had no idea why three teenagers he had known for years would attack him at a party after a Blacksburg High School football game last year.
The 17-year-old Blacksburg High graduate testified that he had gone to a party on Sept. 9, with the intention of hanging out with friends and "getting drunk."
Twamley said he was there for only a few minutes when he began hearing other teenagers at the party, which was unsupervised, say Derrick Fabion Elmore, Mario Jaquea Wilson and Larevis Leontrez Dawkins planned to beat him.
Elmore, 19, Dawkins, 17, and Wilson, 18
, are on trial this week on charges of second-degree lynching and aggravated assault. Because Dawkins was 16 years old when the alleged incident occurred, his assault charge will be handled in Family Court. Dawkins will face the lynching charge as an adult.
Under South Carolina law, the charge of lynching implies a group attack -- which is not necessarily racially motivated. In this case, even though the three defendants are black and the victim is white, prosecutors say they don't think the altercation was racially motivated.
During cross examination, Twamley admitted that he had been smoking marijuana before he arrived at the party, but said when Wilson and Dawkins tried to drag him outside, he sobered up quickly.
Twamley said he was sitting on a couch inside the residence when Dawkins and Wilson first attempted to drag him outside by his arms and legs to face Elmore, who was outside the home. Twamley said there was some bad blood between he and Elmore, stemming from a
n incident several years ago. Twamley testified that the incident wasn't serious, and he and Elmore had been friendly since then.
The teenager who lived at the Blacksburg home told everyone at the party to go outside, and Twamley retreated to a back bedroom, he testified. A few minutes later, Dawkins and Wilson again attempted to drag him out of the home, Twamley said.
He testified that he struggled with the two and was still confused as to why Elmore wanted to fight. During the struggle to pull away from Wilson and Dawkins, Twamley suffered a 6-inch laceration to his left arm.
Dawkins and Wilson pulled him out on the porch and someone kicked him onto the ground, Twamley testified. Elmore struck the back of Twamley's head "at least four or five times" and he felt someone kicking him, he said. The only assailant Twamley positively identified was Elmore, although he testified he was sure Dawkins and Wilson participated in the attack.
After the altercation, Twamley was treated at th
e Upstate Carolina Medical Center emergency department by Dr. Mark Huntley, who testified that Twamley was sweaty and pale -- a possible indication of shock. Huntley said Twamley didn't seem intoxicated, although no toxicology tests were run. Twamley received 17 stitches for the laceration and was released.
Anyone convicted of second-degree lynching will be sentenced to between three and 20 years in prison, according to the S.C. Code of Laws. A conviction for aggravated assault carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Teen in lynching case says he knew nothing about suspects' motives
LYNNE P. SHACKLEFORD, Cherokee County Bureau
Published August 15, 2006
GAFFNEY -- Christopher Twamley told jurors Monday he had no idea why three teenagers he had known for years would attack him at a party after a Blacksburg High School football game last year.
The 17-year-old Blacksburg High graduate testified that he had gone to a party on Sept. 9, with the intention of hanging out with friends and "getting drunk."
Twamley said he was there for only a few minutes when he began hearing other teenagers at the party, which was unsupervised, say Derrick Fabion Elmore, Mario Jaquea Wilson and Larevis Leontrez Dawkins planned to beat him.
Elmore, 19, Dawkins, 17, and Wilson, 18
, are on trial this week on charges of second-degree lynching and aggravated assault. Because Dawkins was 16 years old when the alleged incident occurred, his assault charge will be handled in Family Court. Dawkins will face the lynching charge as an adult.
Under South Carolina law, the charge of lynching implies a group attack -- which is not necessarily racially motivated. In this case, even though the three defendants are black and the victim is white, prosecutors say they don't think the altercation was racially motivated.
During cross examination, Twamley admitted that he had been smoking marijuana before he arrived at the party, but said when Wilson and Dawkins tried to drag him outside, he sobered up quickly.
Twamley said he was sitting on a couch inside the residence when Dawkins and Wilson first attempted to drag him outside by his arms and legs to face Elmore, who was outside the home. Twamley said there was some bad blood between he and Elmore, stemming from a
n incident several years ago. Twamley testified that the incident wasn't serious, and he and Elmore had been friendly since then.
The teenager who lived at the Blacksburg home told everyone at the party to go outside, and Twamley retreated to a back bedroom, he testified. A few minutes later, Dawkins and Wilson again attempted to drag him out of the home, Twamley said.
He testified that he struggled with the two and was still confused as to why Elmore wanted to fight. During the struggle to pull away from Wilson and Dawkins, Twamley suffered a 6-inch laceration to his left arm.
Dawkins and Wilson pulled him out on the porch and someone kicked him onto the ground, Twamley testified. Elmore struck the back of Twamley's head "at least four or five times" and he felt someone kicking him, he said. The only assailant Twamley positively identified was Elmore, although he testified he was sure Dawkins and Wilson participated in the attack.
After the altercation, Twamley was treated at th
e Upstate Carolina Medical Center emergency department by Dr. Mark Huntley, who testified that Twamley was sweaty and pale -- a possible indication of shock. Huntley said Twamley didn't seem intoxicated, although no toxicology tests were run. Twamley received 17 stitches for the laceration and was released.
Anyone convicted of second-degree lynching will be sentenced to between three and 20 years in prison, according to the S.C. Code of Laws. A conviction for aggravated assault carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
