[7E-Ben-Lilly]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#598-26 1:41:47]
[GRAPHIC=Ben Lilly]
The U-S Supreme Court will hear arguments for a new trial in the case of a man convicted of capital murder for killing a Virginia Tech student.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/February 12, 1997; ]
Benjamin Lilly is on death row for abducting and killing Alexander DeFilippis.
Lilly's brother, Mark, gave a statement to police in which he said he had quote "nothing to do with the shooting" and blamed it on his brother.
Mark Lilly never testified during his brother's trial, citing his constitutional right to avoid self- incrimination.
The U-S Supreme court has agreed to examine whether such statements should be allowed as evidence-- when the person refuses to testify.
Max Jenkins was one of Ben Lilly's trial attorneys.
He says he was both pleased and surprised by the news.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Because that ]
((MAX JENKINS/BEN LILLY'S TRIAL ATTORNEY: BECAUSE THAT IS THE FIRST CASE I HAVE EVER HAD THAT A PERSON HAS GOTTEN THE ULTIMATE PENALTY, THE DEATH PENALTY.
so i guess that weighs on your mind?
MAX JENKINS:YES, IT DOES, IT WEIGHS ON YOUR MIND AND IT COMES UP AND THINK ABOUT IT AT DIFFERENT TIMES, U KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.))
[SUPER=01-Max Jenkins/Ben Lilly's Trial Attorney; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=the year.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
Ben Lilly's other trial attorney, Christopher Tuck, says he's cautiously optimistic.
[7E-Extradition]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-63 1:33:47]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
He's a Michigan business owner who committed a crime in Martinsville 24 years ago.
Now Virginia officials want to put him back in jail-
and instead of his original one year sentence, he now faces more than thirty years behind bars.
Tina Tenret reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Alfred Martin sold]
[SUPER=03-Livonia, MI; :00]
[SUPER=01-Guy Dobbs/Attorney; :23]
[SUPER=01-Joan Zigler/Martinsville Commonwealth's Atty.; :59]
[super=@Tina1; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Martinsville]
(( Alfred Martin sold marijuana in Martinsville 24 years ago.
He was sentenced to a year on the Martinsville city farm, but fled after one day.
He now has three children and runs his own company in Michigan.
But when police gave him a traffic ticket last week -- they found out he was wanted.
His lawyer says Martin will NOT go back to Virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:48:22]
[IN Q=There certainly were]
((GUY DOBBS/ATTORNEY: THERE CERTAINLY WERE ... IN OUR OPINION.))
[RUNS:15]
[OUT Q=OPINION]
Meanwhile Virginia law enforcement officials say Martin should stand trial in Virginia -- for escape, and for not paying off his furniture when he left.
They tried to bring him back in 1976 -- but Michigan's governor at the time protected Martin.
The commonwealth's attorney says things have changed since then.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:03;00]
[IN Q=The detainer agreement]
((THE DETAINER AGREEMENT IS A MUCH STRONGER PACT. THE STATES REALLY PARTICIPATE IN IT. JUST LIKE IF SOMEONE'S SEEKING ASYLUM HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA I CAN'T THINK OF ANY TIME I'VE EVER GRANTED IT.))
[RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=i've ever granted it]
If Martin does return, he will be locked in the city jail, where security is tight.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:29:20]
[IN Q=If Martin is convicted]
((TINA TENRET/NEWS7: IF MARTIN IS CONVICTED IN VIRGINIA, HE COULD FACE 10 YEARS FOR ESCAPE, 20 FOR NOT PAYING OFF HIS FURNITURE. ON TOP OF THAT HE STILL HAS HIS ONE-YEAR SENTENCE HE NEVER SERVED. TINA TENRET NEWS7 MARTINSVILLE.))
[RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=Martinsville]))
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a look now at your Tuesday forecast..
A cloudy day ahead, with the possibility for some rain this afternoon.
Look for high temperatures to rise into the low- to mid-60s.
Showers continue overnight, with the possibility scattered thunderstorms.
Nightime lows will be in the upper-40s.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Afternoon Showers/62-66/Showers Likely/Thunderstorm Possible/45-49;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 11/11/98
Wednesday:
[SUPER=130-33/Deborah Boyd/Bassett]
[SUPER=130-7/Christopher Dobbins/Christiansburg]
[SUPER=130-16/Jennifer & Justin Strawbridge/Glasgow]
[SUPER=130-12/Amber Fountaine/Roanoke]
Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-26th/Cathy & Allen Rice/South Boston]
[SUPER=130-11/Adrienne Ramey/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-18/Dawn Hodges/Rocky Mount]
[SUPER=130-6/Nickie Wright/Roanoke]
No Pictures:
[SUPER=131-35/Angela Johnson/Lynchburg][cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;][45Date-Rape]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly trying to poison three Radford University students during a Halloween weekend party.
Twenty-five- year old Kristopher Michael Vanburen of Fort Lauderdale allegedly poured a date rape drug into the women's drinks on October 30th.
He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing January fourth.
[45S-Stephens]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-56 1:43:37]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The murder trial of Quienton Stephens continues today in Pittsylvania County.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]
Stephens is charged with first degree murder for allegedly shooting Delvecchio Farmer in October 1997.
The prosecution says the shooting happened during a failed attempt to steal drugs and money from the victim.
The victim's girlfriend was at home in bed that night when she heard shots being fired.
The Commonwealth's Attorney asked that we not show her face.
She testified that her boyfriend came running into the bedroom just before the gunfire started.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 4:18:27-:29]
[IN Q=He got behind the door]
((HE GOT BEHIND THE DOOR, HE LAID BEHIND THE DOOR.))
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT4:18:47-:50]
((ONLY THING HE SAID WAS PUT MY HEAD DOWN AND BE QUIET.))
[SUPER=01-Toni Lea/Victim's Girlfriend;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=and be quiet.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Court will resume today with more prosecution witnesses.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
A second suspect was arrested Sunday.
Calvin Pinchback is also charged with first degree murder.
He's being held in the Pittsylvania County jail and will be tried seperately.
[45Convict-Vote]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-66 TC35:11]
[GRAPHIC=Voting]
A shocking revelation for local election officials.
A report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee found that last year 144 people went to the polls in Virginia using names of dead people.
And hundreds of convicted felons are registered voters in Southwest Virginia.
Eric Earnhart reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=J-Larc says last]
[SUPER=@File; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :08]
[SUPER=01-Louella Crutchfield/Roanoke Registrar; :22]
[SUPER=01-Diane St. John/Roanoke Co. Registrar; :46]
[SUPER=@Eric1; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=EE, News 7]
((J-Larc says last year 17 hundred convicted felons actually voted in Virginia...
Roanoke Registrar Louella Crutchfield-Thaxton says she still doesn't believe it... but she has no way to check.
Her computers cannot access a voter or applicant's criminal record, and even if they could, she says she's not supposed to.
[SOT 00:42:04]
[IN Q=the state board]
((LOUELLA CRUTCHFIELD-THAXTON/ROANOKE REGISTRAR; THE STATE BOARD HAS INFORMED US THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE THESE PEOPLE'S WORD, IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN INVASION OF PRIVACY IF WE WERE TO ON OUR OWN INVESTIGATE WHAT THEY TELL US. ))
[RUNS14]
[OUT Q=what they tell us]
J-Larc says it found convicted felons on the voting rolls in EVERY jurisdiction... 342 in Roanoke, 97 in Roanoke County, 78 in Montgomery County, and 37 in Botetourt.
[SOT 00:48:56]
[IN Q=I'm totally]
((DIANE ST. JOHN/ROANOKE CO. REGISTRAR; I'M TOTALLY SURPRISED BY THE NUMBER THAT THEY PUT OUT, BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT IT CAN HAPPEN. ))
[RUNS08]
[OUT Q=it can happen]
St. John WANTS to investigate... she asked the state for access to criminal records but still doesn't have it.
State election officials say the Motor-Votor law that allows people to register by simply filling out a form at the DMV is responsible.
St. John believes many offenders ACCIDENTALLY claim their voting rights have been restored.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 00:51:25]
[IN Q=people will say]
((DIANE ST. JOHN/ROANOKE CO. REGISTRAR; PEOPLE WILL SAY YES THEY'VE BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE A DATE IN THE RIGHTS-RESTORED BLOCK.. A LOT OF TIMES WE DOUBLE CHECK WHEN WE SEE THAT AND THAT IS THE DATE THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN CONVICTED.))
[RUNS11]
[OUT Q=actually been convicted]
[standup]
St. John is hopefull the J-Larc report will motivate the state to finally give her the computer access she needs to get the felons out.
Eric Earnhart, News 7.))
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Turning to weather now--
Mostly cloudy today, with afternoon showers likely.
It will also be rather breezy, with south winds anywhere from 15 to 25 miles an hour.
Highs in the mid 60s.
Tonight also looks rainy, with thunderstorms possible.
Lows in the upper 40s.
Meanwhile, the forecast dries out over the next few days...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Afternoon Showers/62-66/Showers Likely/Thunderstorm Possible/45-49;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;][8S-Center-Disabled]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-61 1:57:43]
[GRAPHIC=Handicapped Access]
A handicapped man says he was discriminated against during a recent wrestling match at the Roanoke civic center.
He claims he was kicked out because he requested a more convenient seat.
David Johnson has his story, plus the civic center's response regarding their policies for those with special needs.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Last week's]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Nov. 5; :01]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :11]
[SUPER=01-Dale Miller/Disabled Customer; :20]
[SUPER=@David1; :50]
[SUPER=01-Jim Evans/Roanoke Civic Center; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=Djo, N7.]
(( Last week's wrestling event at the Roanoke Civic Center was a big hit for most fans, but not for Dale Miller.
Miller could have watched from one of the wheelchair spaces on the mezzinine level, but he chose the ground level.
Miller says he couldn't see well from his spot, so he got permission to move closer to ringside, and that's when the trouble started.
[SOT=16:15:55]
[IN Q=AFTER TEN OR FIFTEEN]
((DALE MILLER/WRESTLING FAN; AFTER TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES, I HEARD A LADY SITTING TO MY RIGHT COMPLAINING THAT BECAUSE I WAS THERE IN MY CHAIR, SHE COULDN'T SEE THE MATCHES. SHE COULD STAND UP, I COULDN'T.))
[RUNS13]
[OUT Q=I COULDN'T.]
Miller says within moments he and his wife were escorted out by Roanoke police.
The couple left, but they weren't happy about it.
[SOT=16:17:10]
[IN Q=I FELT LIKE]
((I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING TOLD GO TO THE BACK OF THE BUS. TO ME, I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.))
[RUNS10]
[OUT Q=DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.]
[STAND-UP/]
((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; MILLER SAYS HE WANTS SOMETHING DONE. CIVIC CENTER MANAGERS SAY THEY ALREADY HAVE THE BALL ROLLING- STARTING WITH A THREE YEAR PLAN GEARED TOWARD PROVIDING MORE SEATING SPACE FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED.))
[RUNS]
[SOT=16:23:31]
[IN Q=WE'VE DESIGNED SOME]
((JIM EVANS/ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER; WE'VE DESIGNED SOME IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE WALK-AROUND IN THE COLUSIEM AREA. WE'RE TAKING TWO SECTIONS EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. WE JUST COMPLETED THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS. THIS WILL ADD ABOUT 75-TOTAL HANDICAP SEATS OVER WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.))
[RUNS20]
[OUT Q=IN THE PAST.]
The center has a long list of other handicap accessible renovations planned, including lowering concession stand and box office countertops and putting in new water fountains and telephones.
Miller says he's pleased about the changes, but he would like to see the ground floor become equally accessible.
David Johnson, News7.))[8E-First-Colony]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-62 1:11:34]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg City Seal]
Instead of being demolished, a large chunk of Lynchburg's downtown area has been placed on the selling block.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
G-E Financial Assurance announced yesterday it will NOT demolish this block of buildings it owns on Commerce Street.
Local preservationists had protested the demolition plans, claiming the buildings were historically significant.
Now G-E says anyone who wants to buy them has 45 days to make an offer.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 21:30:32]
[IN Q=This is what]
((PETE WARREN/LYNCHBURG MAYOR: THIS IS WHAT THE PUBLIC SAID THAT WE WANTED AND NOW WE HAVE IT AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS IS GOING TO OPEN SOME DOORS. AND WE TRUST THAT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL BE INVOLVED IN HELPING PEOPLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THOSE BUILDINGS CAN MEAN TO THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN LYNCHBURG.))
[SUPER=01-Pete Warren/Lynchburg Mayor; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=of downtown Lynchburg.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
G-E also announced yesterday it is buying the old Craddock Terry building along the Route 29 Expressway.
The company will spend eight million dollars over the next two years converting the building into a customer service center.
The move will "not" create any new jobs immediately.
(----------------)
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Time again to take a look at Tuesday's forecast--
Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a good chance of showers.
Highs in the mid 60s.
Showers likely through tonight, with thunderstorms possible.
Lows dropping into the upper 40s.
Tomorrow, meanwhile, should turn mostly sunny....
with dry weather lasting until the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Afternoon Showers/62-66/Showers Likely/Thunderstorm Possible/45-49;]
by SS