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Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Williams trial date changed BY ROSS CABELL rsscabell@gmail.com
amounts of alcohol and had each taken 10 Klonopin pills to prepare for their suicides, according to Williams. Depressive effects on the central nervous system can be intensified by alcohol consumption with use of the drug. However, Bracey’s cause of death was ruled a stab wound to the heart. If Williams were to be found guilty of murder he would serve a life sentence. The lesser offense, assisted suicide, is punishable for up to 10 years in prison. Williams’ appeals attorney David Hill said overturning the guilty verdict was the right thing to do. “His defense was not given to the jury; he simply had an unfair trial,” Hill said. During the appeals trial, Judge George Carlson said a hypothetical juror could find Williams guilty of assisted suicide under seven pieces of evidence. The evidence was that there was conflicted testimony to whether Bracey actually committed suicide, evidence that suggested both Williams and Bracey were depressed and in a relationship, and that both were looking to commit suicide,
The re-trial of David Jackson Williams, which was originally scheduled for February, has been changed to July 31. Williams was convicted in 2007 for the murder of Ole Miss student Demetria Bracey. In November 2010, the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned the guilty verdict and Williams was released on a $100,000 bond. The Supreme Court overturned the verdict because the defense was barred from using evidence and jury instruction that supported an assisted suicide cause of death. Williams and Bracey were romantically involved for much of 2005, meeting in January of that year. They broke up during the summer while Bracey was studying abroad in Paris. The relationship resumed on Bracey’s return to Oxford. Williams and Bracey had been holed up in the apartment from Nov. 6 until Bracey’s death, which occurred either in the late evening of Nov. 10 or early morning of Nov. 11. They had consumed heavy See TRIAL, PAGE 4
Vol. 100 No. 239
ASB gearing up for spring elections, deadline Feb. 3
FILE PHOTO | The Daily Mississippian
Students campaign during ASB election season. This year has seen a lower number of students submitting petitions to run for office.
BY JENNIFER NASSAR jennifernassar2@gmail.com
The Associated Student Body spring election season kicks off Feb. 3, and petitions for the 2012-13 ASB officers are available for president, vice president, secretary, trea-
surer, attorney general and ju- Feb. 13. dicial chair. ASB vice president Abby OlThe petitions, which must ivier describes the campaignhave at least 25 signatures of ing experience as fun, unique eligible voters (full-time stu- and energetic. dents) and specific personal “From start to finish, it’s a information are due Friday, long process,” she said. “A lot Feb. 3, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Campaigning will begin See ELECTIONS, PAGE 5
Kappa Sig successful in appeal, will face sanctions BY JACOB BATTE thedmnews@gmail.com
FILE PHOTO | The Daily Mississippian
The judicial council adjourns after deliberat-
inside
ing about the recent incident with Kappa Sigma fraternity during the fall.
Local United Way chapter exceeds fundraising goal P. 4
It has been exactly one month since the judicial council at the University of Mississippi first met regarding an incident involving the Kappa Sigma fraternity. After a month-long break and a week to review the fraternity’s appeal, the final ruling has been made. The fraternity was found in violation of hazing, registration of activities and alcohol-related charges. The charges came from a police report involving the abuse of alcohol, according to Judicial Council Chairman Courtney Pearson. The fraternity pled “in-violation” to all of the charges. This is Kappa Sig’s first strike. The fraternity has been placed on two-strike probation through the Spring 2013 semester.
Among the sanctions laid by the judicial council, the fraternity may not sponsor any social activities through the conclusion of next fall or participate in philanthropic activities held by other organizations except by donating money. The chapter will have to develop a community service plan, alcohol education plan and anti-hazing education plan that must be approved by the Office of the Dean of Students. The chapter must plan a retreat focusing on pledge education with 95 percent of the chapter attending prior to 2012. Pearson said the local chapter and national organization were cooperative and helpful during the investigation. Ole Miss Kappa Sigma president Tyler McBeth said the most important part of the ruling was being able to keep the chapter on campus. Relieved upon hearing
Golson makes transition from gridiron to diamond P. 7
that, McBeth turned his focus to his chapter’s participation in recruitment. “We appealed the ability to participate in recruitment because every year is crucial to each chapter’s success as a Greek organization,” he said. After hearing that they would be allowed to participate in recruitment in 2012, McBeth said he “couldn’t have been more grateful.” Though 2011 did not end well for the local chapter, McBeth said (the members of Kappa Sig) are going to keep their heads up in 2012. “We plan on staying optimistic and taking this ruling as a challenge to better our chapter and hope that we can use these changes to become a model Greek Organization for the University of Mississippi,” he said.
Ole Miss Signing Day Primer: announcements and other notes P. 12