I would like to see what people think of this incident that resulted in the death of a friend of a friend. Heres the facebook link, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2 … amp;ref=nf , and heres the text of the summary copied and pasted. Also, here is an online petition we're trying to get around: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/jus … swamy.html
Kapali Giridhar Swamy, 27, was killed November 18, 2007. He was punched in the face by Christopher Brett Pennington, and he died within moments in the middle of a Cullman, Alabama street.
The details of the events leading to the crime are as follows. Three individuals—Kapali Swamy, Gina Gonzalez, and Christopher Brett Pennington were driving to Pennington's residence shortly after 6am on 11/18; Kapali was kindly giving Pennington a ride home from a night out in Birmingham. Apparently, during the drive and after stopping the car, Kapali and Gina became involved in a heated verbal argument. Once they exited the car the argument continued, at which time Pennington approached Kapali. Words were exchanged, and then Pennington escalated a verbal confrontation to a physical one by punching Kapali. Kapali fell to the ground and was found to be pulseless and without any signs of life when emergency medical personnel arrived a few minutes later. Pennington's right fist was bruised, but his body was without any other signs of an altercation. Gina and a third party witness both assert that Kapali did not touch either Pennington or Gina.
The evidence of the case is as follows:
1) The alleged perpetrator fully confessed to punching Kapali in his statement to police.
2) Two independent eye-witnesses gave consistent descriptions of the events surrounding his death, directly implicating Pennington as the responsible party
3) These witnesses confirmed that Kapali did not initiate any physical conflict
4) The autopsy confirmed the cause of Kapali's death as massive brain hemorrhage and brainstem herniation, the direct result of "homicide."
Yet in January of 2008, a Cullman, Alabama grand jury inexplicably decided -- in a closed hearing -- not to indict Pennington on any charge which included involuntary manslaughter (a felony) and criminally negligent homicide (a misdemeanor). Basically the Grand Jury decided there was no need for a trial since in their eyes no crime was committed. Therefore Brett will not stand trial for his actions and thus a killer walks free.
Kapali Giridhar Swamy, 27, was killed November 18, 2007. He was punched in the face by Christopher Brett Pennington, and he died within moments in the middle of a Cullman, Alabama street.
The details of the events leading to the crime are as follows. Three individuals—Kapali Swamy, Gina Gonzalez, and Christopher Brett Pennington were driving to Pennington's residence shortly after 6am on 11/18; Kapali was kindly giving Pennington a ride home from a night out in Birmingham. Apparently, during the drive and after stopping the car, Kapali and Gina became involved in a heated verbal argument. Once they exited the car the argument continued, at which time Pennington approached Kapali. Words were exchanged, and then Pennington escalated a verbal confrontation to a physical one by punching Kapali. Kapali fell to the ground and was found to be pulseless and without any signs of life when emergency medical personnel arrived a few minutes later. Pennington's right fist was bruised, but his body was without any other signs of an altercation. Gina and a third party witness both assert that Kapali did not touch either Pennington or Gina.
The evidence of the case is as follows:
1) The alleged perpetrator fully confessed to punching Kapali in his statement to police.
2) Two independent eye-witnesses gave consistent descriptions of the events surrounding his death, directly implicating Pennington as the responsible party
3) These witnesses confirmed that Kapali did not initiate any physical conflict
4) The autopsy confirmed the cause of Kapali's death as massive brain hemorrhage and brainstem herniation, the direct result of "homicide."
Yet in January of 2008, a Cullman, Alabama grand jury inexplicably decided -- in a closed hearing -- not to indict Pennington on any charge which included involuntary manslaughter (a felony) and criminally negligent homicide (a misdemeanor). Basically the Grand Jury decided there was no need for a trial since in their eyes no crime was committed. Therefore Brett will not stand trial for his actions and thus a killer walks free.
Last edited by stratozyck (2008-04-03 14:42:43)