ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, April 8, 1997                 TAG: 9704080100
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOANNE POINDEXTER

JUDGE DROPS CHARGE AGAINST 1 TAXI SUSPECT

A Bedford County General District Court judge dismissed charges of carjacking, malicious wounding and robbery against one of two suspects in connection with the January beating of a taxi driver.

Judge James Updike did not certify charges against Kevin Dexter Hancock, 22, of Goodview, because the commonwealth did not present enough evidence during a preliminary hearing Monday, prosecutor Dirk Padgett said. His office, however, will seek a grand jury indictment May 6.

The charges stem from the beating of Yellow Cab Co. driver Doug Conner, who picked up two passengers in Stewartsville. Conner, 51, had to have 23 staples and five stitches to close his wounds.

Prosecutors believe Hancock called the taxi but accuse the other passenger, Brent Elton Gray, 19, of Vinton, of assaulting Conner with a hammer and then driving away after Conner bailed out of the cab. Updike certified carjacking, malicious wounding and robbery charges against Gray.

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