Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / May 29, 2002, edition 1 / Page 8
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8A THE NEWS-JOURNAL Raeford, N.C. May 29,2002 Hayes visit Both Democrats and Republicans greeted Congressman Robin Hayes when he paid a visit to Hoke yesterday evening. The Republican representative attended an event held at the pond-side retreat of Clayton Buoyer. Memorial Day shindig National Senior Living residents celebrated Memorial Day with a cookout. “Our residents look for ward to upcoming events such as the monthly birthday party with The Dogs’ as entertainment, ‘he Friday Nighters’ to play and sing, singer Don Brock and the Lumbee Homecoming in Pembroke, just to name a few,” says a spokesper son. Any friends and family mem bers wishing to attend these events should call Susan Baxley at 878-1562 for details. Leach, a suspccl currently in cus tody at Hoke Jail. Leach is charged with four counts of breaking and en tering and one count of possession of stiilen goods. Leach is also wanted as a suspect for another robbery with a dangerous weapon in Scotland County, she added. These announcements from the SBI last week and the DA yesterday resultedafterthesheriffsaid last week on a Raleigh TV station that a witness has revealed new evidence into Brittany's death. I'he girl was kid napped as she waited for her school bus on Ciainey Road on January 8. I‘>98, She was sexually assaulted and drowned. Davis said he questioned the integ rity of the original investigation and the motivations of those investiga tors. 1 lowever, Newton said the former interviews were well-documented that were conducted by the SBI and detec tives under former sheriff Wayne Byrd. “We all continue to be hopeful to support not only an arrest, but also a conviction of the person who mur dered Brittany Locklear," Newton said. “As far as I know, no one is in the process of seeking an arrest in the case." Newton al.so discounted the recent reliability of Leach. She said she be lieves in the “credibility" of what the witness formerly stated in interviews “early on" in the Brittany investiga tion. However, she said Davis' al leged interview recently where the witness reportedly,said the truck of , Brittany’s kidnapper was “blue" rather than brown would be "inconsistent” with information revealed by the wit ness in the original interviews. “1 have no reason to doubt that Mr. Leach was a legitimate witness be fore in the case," Newton said. “Now, he has destroyed his credibility as a witness in the murder case even if we apprehend the murderer. Leach was a juvenile at the time of Brittany's murder. Newton said Ixach has a long history of “getting into trouble” with the law that she was verv familiar with him over the course at— 1' r- AiOi To keep up with the rapid pace of technology, just like the banks, we have installed a 24-hour newspaper ATM. Conveniently located in front of our office, this ATM (automated typography machine) dispenses copies of Ti^e News-Journal 24 hours per day for just two quarters. The News-Journal: Todays technology today. The News-Journal’s answer to automated tellers of the past couple of years, “It is a pattern of Mr. Leach's behavior to get informtition on other people in exchange for requesting f;i- vrtritism," she stiid. Newton said I .etich tippmached her two months ;igo with some informa tion on some "drug-rehited " ctises he knew off, but the DA wtis alietidy aware c'f the inforniiition. NcnUoii rejected his offer of ;ui exchange of information fi'r reduced crimintil chiirges he was lacing. “He ilid not indictile he had tiny informtition on Britlanv Lockletir." Newton said. "I thought his own al leged crimes were loo severe to w'ar- ranl favortible tretilmeiit. “Subsequent to my deni;il of his reipiest, Mr. Leach then providetl in formation to Sheriff Davis on Bril- t:my." Newton declined to say if Leach had been a direct w itness to Brin any s abduction by the killer, or if he rnerelx recalled seeing the truck. Another source said Leach was w'oiking in a field on (iainey Road on the day of Brittany's disappeanince. "Somehow Mr. Leach contacted Sheriff Davis and it came about he gave this inconsistent information on Brittany," New ton stiid. "Sherifl Dax is communicated with me on Mtiy 10 that this witness htid now changed his story in some respects. I'he sheriff said Mr. Lettch htid offered some new information that he htid never before reported to other investigtitois work ing on this case." ,After her conversation with Davis, Newton" said the SBI interviewed Leach again, and said they were aw are of thiit information. Newton stiid she htis still not been provided a copy of a report from Dtivis regarding Leach's new information. "Mr. Leach wtis inteiviewed sev eral times tiller the murder," Newton DA Kristy McMillan Newton stiiil. "He was hypnotized. It a person is to be hypnotized, under N.C. state law, you have to accurately record anything they say prior to the hypno sis. ■ fhe hypnosis cannot be used at the trial, but it ctin benefit obtaining more information on the case.” According to Newton, Leach was hvpnotized shortly after Brittany’s death. 11 is statements were consistent during his hypnosis with that of his inlerv lews. Davis told news media last week he vvastrvinglodelermine if Brittany’s murder was linked with obstruction of justice allegedly from investiga- tois in the initial investigation "This witness now states that he was coerced into giving false and misleading information, as well as intimidated and harassed by public officitils,■' Dtivis said last week. “This w itness w iis tilso told to pretend to be hypnotized as part of the investiga tion and to lie about specific suspect tind vehicle informtition.” Davis has tilso requested additional tissistance from the criminal section of the federtil Civil Rights Division to see if Brititiny 's civil rights were vio- Itited. Brittany was standing alone at her bus slop on a misty morning when a mtin reportedly letined out of his pickup truck and “grabbed some thing." Brittany's body was found approximately 3b hours later — her body submerged in a drainage ditch on Ryan McBryde Road — approxi mately three miles from her home. The SBI continues to encourage tinyone who suspects someone being lesponsible for Brittany's murder, or anyone with information to contact them ill (910) 486-1262; or call the Sheriffs Office at (910) 875-5111. I'here is a reward for the conviction of her killer. Smoke alarms installeii -hour Newspapering The City of Raeford Volunteer f ire Department isconlinuing its progrtim of checking smoke altiims tiiul b.iiier- ies at no charge ;is well as offering to install new smoke tilarms in homes of the elderly, handictipped tind those on low or fixed incomes. Members of the Raeford fire de partment are providing the smoke alarms and batteries free, and some arc being donated by Lodge I 18, Woodmen of the World, for informa tion and to take.advantage of Operti- lion Smoke Alarm, call the fire de- ptirtmcnt at 875-5150 and leave a messiige. You will be contacted by someone from the fire deptirtment. The only rec|uirement of the pro gram is that home owners or dwelling occupants live within the city limits. A ptirticipani will also be asked to sign a reletise form if an alarm is installed. free home inspections will also be made. Editorial Deadlines Friday 12 Noon - Calendar Items, Social Items, News Items Monday 12 Noon - Letters to the Editor ASSEMBLED STORAGE BARNS Built on treated 4x4 skids with 3/4" thick floor- shingled & trimmed READY FOR YOUR YARD! 8x10 8x8 $495.00 10x10 $895.00 8x10 $595.00 10x12 $995.00 8x12 $695.00 10x14...$1,095.00 DIUON 608 S. 1st Avenue 843-774-2739 I M-FStoS:00pm.Sat8lo12:30pni " !■ '■■■ LAURINBURG Highway 74 East 910-276-5000 MF8toS:30pm.Sat8lol2;30pm RAEFORD aSH 318 S. Main St. yS (T] 910-875-3546 cash& ' M F 7 30 to S OOpo. Sat 8 to 12 301111 Good Check I
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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May 29, 2002, edition 1
8
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