Former UVa student Andrew Alston, charged in the murder of Walter Sisk, of Free Union, is claiming in his defense that Sisk died because he stabbed himself, 18 times. John Correa, with whom Alston studied aikido in 2002, testified that each of the wounds on Sisk’s body are consistent with the use of standard aikido defense measures against an individual armed with a knife. The Nelson Muntz (“Why are you hitting yourself?”) Defense, if successful, could keep Alston from up to 40 years in prison. Liesel Nowak the story. in today’s Progress. 11/10 Update: The Cav. Daily reports that a jury found Alston guilty of voluntary manslaughter late last night.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
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Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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get a new lawyer
I feel I should say that, hey, it could happen. Maybe Sisk — and I’m totally making this up — was so determined to stab Alston and Alston was such a bad-ass aikido fiend that Sisk kept thrusting and Alston kept parrying until, finally, Alston had…erm…stabbed himself 18 times.
It looks stupid even to write it. But I’d feel real bad for Alston if he really did just do a bang-up job of defending himself against a determined attacker.
I have to think that there may actually be something to this defense, or the attorney really is a waste of air. I would think that the forensic evidence (that is, the trajectory of the knife) would answer this question pretty quickly.
One of the wounds was to Sisk’s back. Hard to explain with the defense theory.
Anyway, Alston has now been found guilty, although of a lesser charge than 2nd degree murder. I’m not sure what the sentencing is likely to be for voluntary manslaugter.
so i know not to ever let any of them operate heavy machinery. buncha idiots.
It removes some of the idiocy if one says, for instance:
"Alston defended himself by deflecting Sisk`s attack so effectively Sisk suffered multiple wounds from his own knife."
instead of:
"Sisk stabbed himself numerous times."