A former US Marine pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing his estranged wife in Australia by dousing her with gasoline & setting her on fire while she was tied up in front of their young children.
Brian Early Johnston, 37, stood in court & copped to a count of murder just weeks before he was scheduled to go on trial in Brisbane for Kelly Wilkinson’s 2021 burning death.
The mom-of-three’s scorched body was found in the backyard of the family Gold Coast home on the morning of April 20, 2021.
Johnston, then 34, was accused of violating a restraining order & setting his wife of 10 years ablaze as their 3 kids, who ranged in age from 2 to 9, looked on in horror.
In the process, Johnston also lit himself on fire & jumped into a pool to put out the flames.
Officers who responded to the scene in the city of Arundel found a semiconscious Johnston with severe burns on his body 2 blocks away from his home.
Cops recovered a plastic gasoline can, 3 knives & a duffle bag containing a rope & duct tape.
Johnston was hospitalized with burns to his hands & airway, & remained in a coma for days before he was booked on a charge of murder.
Wilkinson’s family members were present Wednesday to witness Johnston’s arraignment in Brisbane Supreme Court via a video link from jail.
Johnston did not respond when asked if he wanted to say anything as to why sentence should not be passed upon him.
The 37-year-old has been remanded to custody pending his sentencing hearing set for March 13.
Johnston & Wilkinson’s children have been taken in by an aunt.
UFC 298 Countdown previews 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski, who defends his belt against Ilia Topuria, and former 185-pound champion Robert Whittaker, who battles Paulo Costa. Plus, former two-weight champ Henry Cejudo faces Merab Dvalishvili. UFC 298 main card action kicks off on Saturday, February 17 at 10pm ET / 7pm PT.
Ian Machado Garry trains with Charles Oliveira. Robert Whittaker games with his dad. Ilia Topuria and Merab Dvalishvilli wrap up camps in Vegas. Champ Alexander Volkanovski arrives in LA.
Ian Machado Garry and Paulo Costa land in LA. Merab Dvalishvilli spars and takes in the Super Bowl with friends. Champ Alexander Volkanovski hits the mats. Ilia Topuria trains with his brother; Robert Whittaker heads to Beneil Dariush’s gym.
The trial has started for Run DMC Legend Jam Master Jay. New evidence emerges as lawyers cross examine eye witnesses who were there at the 2002 crime. Lets take a trip down memory lane as we comb thru all the details
Jam Master Jay, real name Jason Mizell, was 37 when he was hit in the head at his recording studio in Queens, New York, in October 2002. He was one third of Run-DMC, the influential hip-hop group known for 1980s tracks such as It's Tricky, It's Like That and Aerosmith collaboration Walk This Way. Image caption, Run-DMC are one of the most influential groups in hip-hop history
They spoke against drug culture, even recording a "Just Say No" public service announcement in 1988. But prosecutors said Mizell had become involved as a middle man in a drug deal to support his lifestyle and those of others close to him as the group's music career faded.
They said Mr Jordan, who was 18 at the time, and Mr Washington, a friend who was staying with Mizell's sister, thought they would be part of a deal worth nearly $200,000, and were angered when they were cut out.
They plotted to harm him after being "left with nothing", New York prosecutor Miranda Gonzalez told the jury, according to the Reuters news agency. Another man, Jay Bryant, will face a separate trial in 2026. He is accused of entering the studio through the front door and letting Mr Jordan and Mr Washington in through a locked back fire exit, before Mr Jordan allegedly hit Mizell with a handgun.
"He would be taken out in his own music studio, by people he knew," Ms Gonzalez told the court, the AFP news agency reported. 'No clue who did it'
But defence lawyer Ezra Spilke called the prosecution's account of events "one version of many", and said the accused pair "have no clue who did it". There is no forensic evidence connecting his client, Mr Washington, to the murder, only "ageing memories", he said.
Mr Washington was an alcoholic and relied on Mizell to keep a roof over his head. "Why bite the hand that feeds you?" Mr Spilke said. "Why kill the person you depend on?"
He told the jury: "Mizell was a beloved artist, but convicting the wrong person... does not solve the tragedy. It just adds another one to it."
Mr Jordan's lawyer John Diaz noted how "the narrative has changed over time" and that some prosecution witnesses had co-operated with federal investigators in exchange for leniency in their own criminal cases.
Posted by ChasinDatPaper on February 13, 2024 at 12:47pm
CHILGOK, South Korea, Feb 13 (Reuters) - A group of South Korean octogenarian rappers have hit it big in their hometown & beyond, rapping about farm life & bringing energy to a quiet rural area threatened by a population slump.
Suni & the Seven Princesses have become local celebrities since debuting in a community centre in August last year in Chilgok county, an area in North Gyeongsang province more than 4 hours drive from capital city Seoul.
"It feels like I'm getting younger ... Even if I'm old, I'm excited," said Park Jeom-sun, 81, leader of the group.
After initially gaining a modest fan club of 150 people, the group's fame spread beyond their own county. They have been asked to perform in local towns & appear on TV shows. Their videos have garnered more than 77,000 views on YouTube.
Park said she & the other group members feel like they are reliving their youth when they perform in bucket hats, wearing metal jewellery & baggy pants.
Their lyrics are often about rural life & include lines like: "Picking chilli from a chilli farm ... Picking watermelon from a watermelon farm. So happy to be back home!"
Group members, who have known each other since they were young, missed out on an education in the harsh years after the Korean War, & in 2016, they all took an adult education class to learn how to read & write the Korean alphabet, Hangul.
Last year, Park came across a rap performance on the internet & the group decided to learn rap from their Hangul teacher & make a senior hip-hop group.
4 other rap groups made up of older South Koreans have sprung up in Chilgok, some formed with the idea of staving off dementia & loneliness.
Park's proud 27-year-old granddaughter, Kang Hye-eun, believes her grandmother is the most famous resident of Chilgok.
"I thought only celebrities become popular on social media, but my grandmother is there now."
01. Silence Is Golden 02. Holland Tunnel Vision 03. Gas Station 04. Picasso Pt. 4 (Guernica) 05. Divorce 06. Lord Willin Feat. Bookkeeper141 07. Porcelain Dinner Plates
Tha Rhyme Animal is back! Bigger and better than before! With a new flame ignited inside of him, we can only expect nothing but greatness from the Toronto Veteran that is responsible for the S.A.R.S. (Sick Artists Runnin Shit) Underground Movement.
Tha Rhyme Animal has had enough with rappers and is ready to show them that they are in grave danger with his new release “Back 2 Jail” that is produced by legendary Toronto producer Bozack Morris. Bozack is known for his work with Griselda, Big Ghost, Ty Farris and many more! This single is grimy and gritty displaying the best of his work. The video was directed and edited by Legendary video and film maker Mercenary Productions, who really took these visuals to whole new level with his cinematic vision and attention to detail, the 3 of them combined made an instant hip hop classic well ahead of its time!
Tha Rhyme Animal is versatile and can go any direction with his music, which makes it feel like a surprise every time he releases something new. Stay tuned!
HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas man who drugged his wife’s drinks in an attempt to induce an abortion was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years on probation.
Mason Herring, a 39-year-old Houston attorney, pleaded guilty Wednesday to injury to a child and assault of a pregnant person. He had initially been charged with felony assault to induce abortion.
Catherine Herring, who has filed for divorce, told the court the jail sentence was not long enough. She said their 1-year-old daughter, their third child, was born about 10 weeks premature, has developmental delays and attends therapy eight times a week.
“I do not believe that 180 days is justice for attempting to kill your child seven separate times,” Catherine Herring said.
Catherine Herring told authorities her husband in March 2022 began lecturing her on hydration and offering water. She said she became severely ill after drinking from the first cup that appeared cloudy, which her husband explained was perhaps the result of the cup or water pipes being dirty.
Catherine Herring became suspicious and began refusing multiple other drinks her husband offered. She later found in the trash packaging for a drug that contains misoprostol, a medicine used to induce abortion.
She also gave police videos from hidden cameras she installed at her home where her husband was no longer living. One of them showed him mixing a substance in one of her drinks, Catherine Herring said.
Mason Herring’s attorney, Dan Codgell, called the plea deal and sentence reasonable.
“It’s a sad situation and Mason has accepted his responsibility,” Cogdell said.
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The 37-year-old has been remanded to custody pending his sentencing hearing set for March 13.
Johnston & Wilkinson’s children have been taken in by an aunt.
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Source: New York Post