Northwest Airlines announced Wednesday (WINA, WVIR and the Progress all carried the story) that they’ll be offering three daily flights to Detroit. Thank God — I know we’ve all been eagerly awaiting this, just like the non-stop flights to Cincinnati (or whatever) that CHO started offering a few years ago. I eagerly await daily flights to Bismark.
cvillenews.com
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Jock writes: A week after his acquittal on murder charges in the British Virgin Islands, Michael Spicer was back in Charlottesville. Last night he and his friend and former Tortola cellmate Evan George, enjoyed an evening together on the Downtown Mall.
Spicer and George had drinks at Miller’s, played pool at Rapture, and ate a late dinner at Escafé. While sampling Escafé’s shrimp ceviche, George remarked that the food was much better than at Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut, Tortola. The menu there sometimes included cooked fish heads. “There is not much meat on a fish head,” he remarked.
Four Americans: Spicer, George, Alexander Benedetto and William Labrador, spent 470 days in a Tortola jail awaiting trial on charges of killing a young woman, Louis McMillen. After the Crown Prosecutors presented their case, High Court Justice Kenneth Benjamin concluded there was “absolutely no evidence” against George and a “very weak case” against Spicer and Benedetto, and directed the jury to acquit them.
The fourth defendant, William Labrador, is still on trial. Today Judge Benjamin instructs the jury and they begin deliberating. If convicted Labrador could face up to life in prison.
The main evidence against Labrador was the testimony of convicted con artist Jeffrey Plante, who alleged Labrador confessed to the crime. Defense lawyers vigorously attacked Plante’s credibility on cross-examination. They also presented testimony from his former parole officer, who said she would never believe a word he said.
Labrador took the stand in his own defense. He denied having had anything to do with the murder, and testified that Plante was lying.
Spicer said he expects the jury promptly to acquit Labrador.
Tomorrow (Friday) morning Spicer, George and Benedetto are scheduled for an interview on NBC’s Today show with Katie Couric. Saturday, CNN’s Larry King will interview them. The CBS program 48 Hours is also preparing a documentary on the trial.
“I never expected to be a celebrity,” Spicer said.
Albemarle County Commonwealth Attorney Jim Camblos has dropped charges against Dylan Tyree in the murder of Osama Hassan at the Shell Station on Ivy Road in 1998. Though the evidence was strong enough that his conviction seemed likely, a state appeals court ruled that crucial evidence was inadmissible on a technicality. Carlton Arnold and Isaac Brown have already been convicted of murder in the case. Today’s Progress has the story.
According to today’s Progress, Charlottesville’s poshest market, Foods of All Nations, is branching out. “Foods,” as regulars call it, will be opening their second location in Virginia Beach. Foods is well-known for their selection of excellent and rare foods, as well as for treating their staff well. If all goes well, they hope to open up a third location in Richmond.
There’s been another arrest in the murder of Alison Meloy, WINA reports. The suspect is a 16-year-old Waynesboro boy, and he’s been charged with being an accessory after the fact to her murder, as well as an accessory to grand larceny. Today’s Progress explains that he and another male youth were picked up in the victim’s car by suspect Jamie Poindexter, who told them what had happened. The unnamed youth is being held in a juvenile jail in Staunton.
Sideblog
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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