Saturday, December 20, 2014

War Crime Follow-Up: The Papa John’s Murder in Columbia, Tennessee

 

War crime victim Gordon Schaffer, 22
 


Suspected war criminal Rodney Harvell
 


Suspected war criminal Darious Fitzpatrick, though only 17, is already a violent career criminal with several felony convictions as a juvenile; his example is spurring calls for juvenile justice reform in Tennessee
 

“Papa John's CEO Attends Funeral of Employee Shot Dead by Robbers While Working at the Popular Pizza Chain - and Pays for his Service and Medical Expenses.”
 

By David in TN
I went by the "Papa John's" at 5 p.m. today. The store is at the end of a strip mall. It was open with two employees, one a young man who looked like Gordon Schaffer, and a young woman.

At the entrance were some flowers, balloons, and dolls. A kind of shrine modern culture requires (instead of outrage) at times like this.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 10:05:00 P.M. EDT
 
Today, December 19, I went to the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. I made my way to the Circuit Court Clerk's office. I told them I've written a few pieces on the internet about trials. I asked how far the case is in the system.

A young woman went to a filing cabinet for the details. The "alleged" killer, Darious Fitzpatrick, is still in juvenile court. They are waiting for the results of "mental and forensic evaluations."

Step one will be transferring Fitzpatrick from juvenile to adult court. The next step will be the grand jury. Then will be the trial.

She said the trial would be in the Maury County courthouse unless the "high profile nature" causes it to be moved to another county.

I told her from my own experience the custom in Tennessee is for a jury to be bused in from somewhere else. The trial will be in Columbia. The courtroom is a few yards from this office.

It was hard to tell how long it will take until the trial. I told her I would check back in a month.

By the way, Columbia, Tennessee has a fairly high black population, 20.8% vs. 69.3% non-Hispanic white.

Friday, December 19, 2014 at 7:49:00 P.M. EST

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