Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 21, 1993 TAG: 9310210256
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
Spectators gasped as the court clerk read the verdict by a multiracial jury, whose tortured deliberations left some jurors ill and prolonged the suspense for days.
Defendant Damian "Football" Williams, 20, was acquitted of attempted murder against Denny. Henry Watson, 29, walked free after 17 months in jail because the jury deadlocked on the remaining charge against him and a mistrial was declared.
Williams faces eight years in prison on convictions of one felony count of mayhem and four misdemeanor assaults. Watson was convicted of only one misdemeanor, which has a maximum jail term of six months.
The two men were acquitted on 14 felony counts.
They were accused of beating Denny, who is white, and several others when violence broke out April 29, 1992, after four white policeman were acquitted in the beating case of motorist Rodney King. Two officers were convicted later.
Denny told "Inside Edition" Wednesday that "he was happy with the verdicts, that he was tired and he just wanted to get on with his life," said Bonnie Strauss, a reporter for the syndicated TV show.
Prosecutors said Williams was the man on the videotape throwing a brick at Denny's head and dancing in glee. But the defense challenged the identification and a prosecution claim that the tape was proof the defendants intended to kill Denny.
"Justice is not perfect. It's certainly not perfect in this case," said District Attorney Gil Garcetti, whose office was flooded with angry calls about the verdict. "Perhaps justice is always imperfect."
Afterward, Williams' mother, Georgiana Williams, stood in a court hallway, her arms linked with friends singing "Praising My Savior, All the Day Long."
She smiled. "I said it wasn't over till the fat lady sings," she said. "I just sang."
by CNB