THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412100174
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JUNE ARNEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
A 16-year-old youth was found not innocent - the state's wording in juvenile cases - Friday in the malicious wounding of a Churchland High School classmate stabbed on a school bus.
The youth's 17-year-old brother will be tried as an adult for his role in the attack.
Juvenile Court Judge Robert F. Babb ordered the case of Shaun A. Woodhouse transferred to Circuit Court. A trial date will be set in January.
His younger brother, whose name is not being published because his case remains in Juvenile Court, is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 13. He also faces trial for marijuana possession.
The brothers' father stood behind them in court Friday as Terrance Taylor, the stabbing victim, described the attack on Nov. 21 that left him with a punctured lung. Taylor's father stood near his son as he testified.
Terrance Taylor boarded the bus in the 6200 block of Dunkirk Street about 7 a.m. and was making his way down the aisle when the younger brother punched him in the face and wrestled him into a headlock, the 18-year-old Taylor testified.
Shaun Woodhouse had the knife, the victim testified, adding that he felt the warmth of his blood, and saw the brothers run off the bus.
``I sat on the bus,'' the victim said. ``People were running, calling for help. They couldn't stop the bleeding. I couldn't take a deep breath.''
Taylor lifted his shirt and showed the judge two scars - one from the stabbing and one from surgery that followed.
Taylor said he and the brothers had not exchanged words that day, but had witnessed two earlier disputes.
He was present several weeks earlier when friends robbed Shaun, he testified. He also was around when friends beat up the younger brother a few days before the stabbing, he said.
``When (the younger brother) got jumped, I was there,'' he said. ``I was laughing and giggling, and they got mad.''
But Taylor said he was not involved in either attack.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Scott C. Vachris said the brothers showed little remorse for the violence.
``Unfortunately, these types of attacks are not uncommon,'' Vachris said. ``What is unusual is that it happened at 7 a.m. on a school bus.''
The younger brother had been charged with possession of a concealed weapon in 1993 and ordered to undergo treatment. He also admitted to court officials that he smoked marijuana four times a week with his brother and friends.
Shaun Woodhouse had appeared in juvenile court on Nov. 9 for having a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm by an underage person. A judge ordered 12 months probation and substance abuse counseling. Woodhouse had not had time to meet with a probation officer before the new charges arose.
The brothers continue to be held in Tidewater Detention Home. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Terrance Taylor, 18, lifted his shirt and showed the judge two scars
- one from the stabbing and one from surgery that followed.
KEYWORDS: STABBING ASSAULT
by CNB