BITE MARKS-SLAYINGS-APPEAL
Bite-mark expert dismisses own testimony
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The expert whose bite-mark evidence led a jury to put Eddie Lee Howard Jr. on Mississippi’s death row now believes that such evidence should be tossed, and has felt so for years.
The Clarion-Ledger reports that forensic odontologist Michael West of Hattiesburg testified in 2012 that he no longer believes in bite-mark analysis.
Howard was convicted of raping and fatally stabbing 84-year-old Georgie Kemp of Columbus in 1992.
The state Supreme Court will hear his latest appeal Tuesday. Lawyers from the Mississippi Innocence Project will argue that Howard deserves a new trial. The state says justices have already rejected Howard’s challenge to bite-mark evidence.
The Clarion-Ledger also reports that DNA tests on Kemp’s nightgown and rape kit excluded Howard. No DNA evidence was presented at his trial.
PETAL-INDOOR VAPING
Petal bans e-cigarette use in public buildings
PETAL, Miss. (AP) – The Petal Board of Aldermen has voted to make vaping illegal in public buildings.
The Hattiesburg American reports that Mayor Hal Marx says he will veto the amendment adding electronic smoking devices to petal’s anti-smoking ordinance.
Five of the seven alderman could override such a veto. Last week’s vote was unanimous.
Sponsor Brad Amacker says there’s already a ban on smoking tobacco in public buildings, and it seemed prudent to update the ordinance.
Marx says business owners should be able to decide whether to ban e-cigarettes.
Some users and sellers of e-cigarettes say they’ll attend the July 6 meeting to ask aldermen to repeal the amendment.
MCCOMB HIT AND RUN
Hit-and-run driver kills McComb man, 33, in mom’s presence
MCCOMB, Miss. (AP) – A McComb woman says a hit-and-run driver killed her son, who died just after she ran up to him.
Bonnie Stewart tells The Enterprise-Journal that a white truck hit her 33-year-old son, Justin Lander as he stood on the shoulder Friday night while she waited to back out onto Highway 98.
She says the truck threw his body into the road, and she heard it run over her son.
Stewart says the truck never stopped.
Mississippi First Class Trooper Brandon Fortenberry said the vehicle was not there when officers arrived and the accident is under investigation.
McComb police Lt. Sean Gill says dispatchers told officers to watch for a four-door, white Nissan Titan pickup truck, reportedly traveling east on Highway 98.
SCRAPIN THE COAST-CROWD
Record crowds estimated for Scrapin the Coast
BILOXI, Miss. (AP) – Organizers say they had another record crowd for the “Scrapin the Coast” exhibition of street-modified trucks, bikes, cars, low-riders and hot rods.
Organizer Eric Kendrick tells WLOX-TV (http://bit.ly/1GfBjCa ) that the crowd has been growing by about 20 percent each of the past several years.
The Sun Herald reports that Saturday’s crowd was estimated at more than 20,000. The show ended Sunday.
There were stereo, burnout, hydraulic and bikini contests both days.
Co-founder Greg Miller says organizers don’t care about the vehicle’s age. Most are modern, but some are antiques.
Most activity takes place at the Coast Coliseum. But, as with Spring Break and Cruisin’ The Coast, vehicles travel Beach Boulevard, where spectators line the roadway with impromptu tailgate parties.
OFFICER KILLED
New Orleans police arrest suspect in killing of officer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison says a man believed to have shot and killed a police officer was arrested after he was seen getting onto a city bus.
He says 33-year-old Travis Boys had broken handcuffs on his wrist when he was arrested Sunday morning and taken to a hospital for treatment of apparent dehydration.
He says Boys will be booked with first-degree murder of a police officer, aggravated escape and illegal possession of a firearm – and the aggravated assault charge on which he originally was arrested.
Boys was captured after a 24-hour manhunt. At one point during the search, Boys crashed a pickup truck into a house but then managed to flee.
SUPREME COURT-ABORTION
Texas abortion law teed up for Supreme Court review
WASHINGTON (AP) – Abortion is back before the Supreme Court, and the justices could signal by the end of June whether they’re likely to take up the biggest case on the hot-button subject in nearly a quarter-century.
If the court steps in, the hearing and the eventual ruling would come amid the 2016 presidential campaign.
The justices are considering an emergency appeal from abortion providers in Texas. They want the Supreme Court to block two provisions of a Texas law that already has forced the closure of roughly half the licensed abortion clinics in the state.
Ten of the remaining 19 clinics will have to shut their doors by July 1, without an order from the Supreme Court.
PONTOTOC SHERIFF
Pontotoc Sheriff Leo Mask suffers heart attack
PONTOTOC, Miss. (AP) – Pontotoc Sheriff Leo Mask is in a Tupelo hospital recovering after a massive heart attack.
Chief Deputy Randy Roberts says Mask underwent stent surgery at North Mississippi Medical Center after complaining of chest pains early Saturday.
Roberts tells WTVA-TV that Mask is expected to make a full recovery. Still, he asked those in the community to keep Mask in their thoughts and prayers as he continues to heal.
