
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 11, 1994                   TAG: 9403110160
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FAIRFAX                                LENGTH: Medium

SLAYING TRIAL OFFERS REALITY CHECK FOR EX-SCHOOLMATES TESTIMONY ON KILLING

Classmates of a slaying victim were riveted as they heard witnesses tell how they were forced to lie on a suburban road, and how they were kicked and beaten until a voice said, "Shoot them all!"

William W. Crocker IV, a 17-year-old Robinson High School student, was killed July 31 after he and friends tangled with a group of young men in a fast-food restaurant parking lot.

Some of his classmates missed school to attend a two-week trial of three young men in Fairfax County Circuit Court, which ended Tuesday in a mistrial.

They heard the three survivors describe how it feels to have a gun pointed at your head. How it feels to hear a friend lying next to you get shot. How it feels when the gun is turned on you and fired into your head.

They listened as one youth said he was so frightened that he curled into a fetal position as he was beaten and kicked and hit in the head with a rock, then got up and ran so fast that he ran right out of his shoes.

"It just shocked me," said Thomas Gray, 16. "Your parents tell you bad things will happen, but you never think twice about it. I guess it really woke everybody up to reality."

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond Brownelle said a confrontation over drugs turned violent.

Frank D. Kelly, 18; Elmer C. Bennefield, 20; and Rick E. Herring, 19, remain in custody and will be retried June 6.

"This is real life," said Alexi Kallini, 16.

"I never imagined something like this could happen in real life. It's so unspeakable. I can't believe what I've heard."

"They're devastated by the fact that it's come home, that it's in their front yard," said Carroll Ellis, supervisor of the Fairfax County Police Department's victim and witness unit.

"Many of these kids have not had any direct experience with death."

Robinson officials discouraged parents from letting their children miss school to attend the trial. But parents who decided otherwise were encouraged to watch their children's reactions and to give them extra support after the emotional testimony.

"It is no doubt affecting kids," said Ann Monday, Robinson's principal.

"There are many kids in our community who, because of their youth and because of their feelings of immortality, just believe bad things can't happen to them."

by CNB