QUOTE OF THE DAY “Passing new sanctions legislation now will undermine our efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution and greatly increase the chances
that the United States would have to take military action.” White House spokesman Jay Carney, as 26 senators introduced legislation that could raise sanctions on Iran Article, 1AMan who shot drunk woman to be tried
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. - A Detroit-area man who fatally shot a drunk, unarmed woman on his porch will stand trial for second-degree murder, a judge said Thursday, rejecting a self-defense argument for the gunman’s “bad decision.”
There is no dispute that Theodore Wafer shot Renisha Mc-Bride, 19, through the screen of his front door in the early hours of Nov. 2. His attorneys said the 54-year-old man feared for his life, but Dearborn Heights Judge David Turfe said there were other ways to protect himself, including a phone call for help.
“This court recognizes you can’t automatically penalize someone for making a bad decision when pressed to react quickly,” the judge said. “But at the same time we can’t allow one to use a bad decision as a shield to criminal prosecution.”
But Wayne County assistant prosecutor Danielle Hagaman-Clark said it’s “ridiculous” to believe that Wafer was deeply afraid, yet still decided to open the door and shoot instead of first calling Dearborn Heights police.
Floridian accused in 2 killers’ escapes
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A Florida man has been charged on accusations of helping his brother’s killer and another murderer escape from prison with bogus court documents.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Thursday that Willie Slater Jr. of Orlando was part of the scheme that helped Joseph Jenkins and Charles Walker walk out of a prison this fall using fake release orders.
Walker was serving a life sentence for murdering Slater’s brother. Special agent Danny Banks said Slater owed Jenkins a favor, which is why he helped him.
Slater was in prison on a burglary charge at the same time Jenkins was behind bars. Authorities said Jenkins took the rap for Slater’s burglary, and Slater was released in 2009.
Report: General’s behavior ‘unbecoming’
WASHINGTON - The Air Force general who was fired as head of U.S. land-based nuclear missile forces engaged in “inappropriate behavior” while on official business in Russia last summer, including heavy drinking and associating with “suspect” women, according to an investigation report released Thursday.
The events took place during a trip Maj. Gen. Michael Carey made in July as the leader of a U.S. government delegation to a nuclear security training exercise. At the time, he was commander of the 20th Air Force, responsible for 450 Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missiles stationed in five U.S. states.
Carey’s firing was one of several setbacks for the nuclear force this year. The Associated Press has documented serious security lapses, leading to the sidelining of 17 officers.
After the trip, a member of the delegation complained to the Air Force inspector general’s office about Carey’s behavior.
After interviews with delegation members, including Carey, investigators concluded that he “engaged in inappropriate behavior” that amounted to “conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman,” as defined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
In response to the investigators’ report, Carey received a “letter of counseling” - a form of discipline for noncriminal misbehavior. After he was relieved of duty in October as commander of the 20th Air Force, Carey was reassigned as special assistant to the commander of Air Force Space Command, where he has no responsibility for nuclear weapons. He remains in that post.
Superfund-site blaze 95% contained
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A large industrial fire at a federal Superfund site in central Tennessee was about 95 percent contained by Thursday evening, a day and a half after it started.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency On-Scene Coordinator Kevin Eichinger said in a phone interview that officials were continuing to monitor air quality around the site in rural Hickman County, about 45 miles southwest of Nashville.
About 300 people were evacuated, and four nearby schools were closed after the fire started Wednesday morning at a plastics recycling business on a portion of the former Wrigley Charcoal Plant. Firefighting efforts were abandoned Wednesday afternoon over fears that nearby propane tanks could explode.
The fire eventually burned away from the tanks, and contractors with heavy equipment began smothering the flames with dirt. By Thursday afternoon, some residents were being allowed to return to their homes, County Mayor Steve Gregory said. There were plans for the schools to reopen today.
Front Section, Pages 3 on 12/20/2013