Tyrone N. Butts
APE Reporter
52
Lawyer seeks better care for accused killer
The lawyer for a woman accused of stabbing a Warner Robins woman to death in 2003 said the life of his client, who has AIDS, is in danger because of inadequate medical attention at the Twiggs County jail.
Latarsha Fuller, 28, of Warner Robins, could face the death penalty if convicted of the June 2003 death of 53-year-old Mary Singletary.
Her lawyer, Joe Thalgott, filed a motion Monday to force the jail to give her better care, and Wednesday questioned the Twiggs County jail administrator at a hearing.
No decision was made,
fter Thalgott requested more time to do research. The hearing will be continued next month.
"I'm just hoping this hearing was a message to Twiggs County that they need to provide adequate tre
atment (to inmates)," Thalgott said after the hearing.
Because Fuller has AIDS, Thalgott said, mild illnesses like the common cold can be deadly.
Fuller, a mother of four, has not received her medication regularly, or the daily medical care her doctors say she needs, he said.
In April, while in jail, Fuller was bitten by what is believed to have been a brown recluse, a poisonous spider, Thalgott said. Although she was treated initially, Fuller did not receive follow-up care recommended by doctors, Thalgott said.
Three other inmates have been bitten by the spiders, Thalgott said, although he did not provide proof. Fuller limped into the courtroom Wednesday, and Thalgott said she had a sore on her leg from the bite.
Joann Holliday, Twiggs County jail administrator, tes
tified that some inmates have complained about spiders, but said, "I don't think we've had all that much of a problem with spiders."
After the hearing, Holliday said neither
Full
er nor any other inmate had been bitten by a spider, and that Thalgott is basing his accusations o
n jailhouse rumors.
Holliday said Fuller has refused to take medication at times and hasn't requested doctor's assistance.
She did not deny that Fuller has had seizures, but also said she has faked some seizures.
Thalgott said not all of Fuller's medication has been available and she needs to take certain medications together, or not at all.
Fuller was hospitalized at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville after she attempted suicide in May, Thalgott said. Doctors said she would have lost her leg because of the bite had she not been taken there, according to the motion.
Holliday said the leg was in far worse condition when Fuller returned early this month.
GBI officials said Fuller killed Singletary after taking a cab ride from Warner Robins to rural Twiggs County. Investigators said Singletary was stabbed more than 30
times</
span> before being left in a wooded area near U.S. 129.
Singletary, who had driven for the White Top Cab Co. in Warner Robins for mor
e than 20 years, was reported missing by family members and co-workers June 19. Her body was found the next day, about 200-300 yards from her burned cab.
<span style='color:red'>Investigators said Fuller was a regular rider in Mary Singletary's cab, and it appears the motive for the homicide was robbery.
*****************
Nebba lets uh negro ride in yo cab, knowha'm'say'n?
T.N.B.
Lawyer seeks better care for accused killer
The lawyer for a woman accused of stabbing a Warner Robins woman to death in 2003 said the life of his client, who has AIDS, is in danger because of inadequate medical attention at the Twiggs County jail.
Latarsha Fuller, 28, of Warner Robins, could face the death penalty if convicted of the June 2003 death of 53-year-old Mary Singletary.
Her lawyer, Joe Thalgott, filed a motion Monday to force the jail to give her better care, and Wednesday questioned the Twiggs County jail administrator at a hearing.
No decision was made,
fter Thalgott requested more time to do research. The hearing will be continued next month.
"I'm just hoping this hearing was a message to Twiggs County that they need to provide adequate tre
atment (to inmates)," Thalgott said after the hearing.
Because Fuller has AIDS, Thalgott said, mild illnesses like the common cold can be deadly.
Fuller, a mother of four, has not received her medication regularly, or the daily medical care her doctors say she needs, he said.
In April, while in jail, Fuller was bitten by what is believed to have been a brown recluse, a poisonous spider, Thalgott said. Although she was treated initially, Fuller did not receive follow-up care recommended by doctors, Thalgott said.
Three other inmates have been bitten by the spiders, Thalgott said, although he did not provide proof. Fuller limped into the courtroom Wednesday, and Thalgott said she had a sore on her leg from the bite.
Joann Holliday, Twiggs County jail administrator, tes
tified that some inmates have complained about spiders, but said, "I don't think we've had all that much of a problem with spiders."
After the hearing, Holliday said neither
Full
er nor any other inmate had been bitten by a spider, and that Thalgott is basing his accusations o
n jailhouse rumors.
Holliday said Fuller has refused to take medication at times and hasn't requested doctor's assistance.
She did not deny that Fuller has had seizures, but also said she has faked some seizures.
Thalgott said not all of Fuller's medication has been available and she needs to take certain medications together, or not at all.
Fuller was hospitalized at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville after she attempted suicide in May, Thalgott said. Doctors said she would have lost her leg because of the bite had she not been taken there, according to the motion.
Holliday said the leg was in far worse condition when Fuller returned early this month.
GBI officials said Fuller killed Singletary after taking a cab ride from Warner Robins to rural Twiggs County. Investigators said Singletary was stabbed more than 30
times</
span> before being left in a wooded area near U.S. 129.
Singletary, who had driven for the White Top Cab Co. in Warner Robins for mor
e than 20 years, was reported missing by family members and co-workers June 19. Her body was found the next day, about 200-300 yards from her burned cab.
<span style='color:red'>Investigators said Fuller was a regular rider in Mary Singletary's cab, and it appears the motive for the homicide was robbery.
*****************
Nebba lets uh negro ride in yo cab, knowha'm'say'n?
T.N.B.