21 MAY 06: BENNING, BEER, BILLIARDS, BLOOD
The murder of a soldier in Columbus was analyzed Saturday night on the CBS News program "48 Hours." But who told reporter Erin Moriarty that Fort Benning was "in Columbus?" It only looks that way when soldiers are at the mall, or out on Victory Drive....
When two Fort Benning soldiers were tried in January for killing Richard Davis, something looked different about the TV coverage. It became clear Saturday night that "48 Hours" was involved. For one thing, WRBL never would have had more than one camera in that courtroom -- and certainly none facing the spectators.
The CBS broadcast offered several new details about the death of Richard Davis. For the first time, a Columbus police interrogation videotape was shown of suspect Jacob Burgoyne being questioned. Take that, you critics of city budgets.
They actually use videotapes, not microcassettes.
The "48 Hours" report also revealed something I hadn't heard before - that the Richard Davis case was the subject of an article in Playboy magazine two years ago. You never heard about it, of course, because no one in Columbus dares to admit they read such trash.
But we really should start at the beginning. Richard Davis was killed in some woods off Milgen Road in July 2003, only days after returning from Iraq. According to "48 Hours," he was with a group of soldiers who drank beer for hours at Hooters. They were happy to be home - and around women wearing T-shirts and not shawls.
After quaffing at Hooters, the four soldiers went to the Platinum Club on Manchester Expressway. The CBS broadcast indicated they went there to play pool. This was shocking in and of itself - you mean strip clubs have billiard tables?!
Fellow soldiers say Richard Davis was "very drunk" while they were at the Platinum Club, so he was taken to a car for a while. Only hours later, Davis was murdered by an enraged soldier - which may prove friends with drunk friends simply should keep driving.
Jacob Burgoyne told "48 Hours" he was in an argument with Richard Davis at the Platinum Club, and beat him a few times in the car. But he says when they stopped along Milgen Road, a red-eyed Alberto Martinez pulled out a knife and "just stuck him" 33 times. If only Columbus had a 24-hour paintball club....
It turns out Jacob Burgoyne had beaten up Richard Davis months before, at another Columbus strip club. Before they went to Iraq, Davis apparently embarrassed a group of soldiers by throwing coins on stage. What IS the minimum bid at these clubs - one dollar or two?
Jacob Burgoyne admitted to "48 Hours" he tried to kill himself in Kuwait days before the death of Richard Davis, by overdosing on prescription drugs. Now he's serving a 20-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter - and only hears about prescription drugs when network newscasts are on TV.
Fort Benning received plenty of criticism in the "48 Hours" report. The father of Richard Davis says Benning listed his son as AWOL after he disappeared in July 2003, and didn't search for him for months. For all we knew, he could have been conducting controlled burns to feed an arson habit.
The CBS broadcast also noted Jacob Burgoyne was recommended for psychiatric care as he returned from Iraq in 2003 -- but after a chat with a doctor at Martin Army Hospital, he was allowed to walk out and return the next week. Those SOA Watch protesters had better be very careful, come November....
(Fort Benning had no direct comment on the criticism - but don't be surprised in a few days if CBS News is added to the "off-limits" list for soldiers.)
District Attorney Gray Conger admitted to "48 Hours" he lacked much evidence to convict Alberto Martinez in the killing of Richard Davis. Yet a jury found Martinez guilty after less than three hours - so maybe it was because the prosecutor in the case looked so much like Antonio Carter of the National Action Network....
The end of the CBS broadcast revealed Alberto Martinez is seeking a new trial. He wants to use post traumatic stress disorder as a defense. This must be the new form of "temporary insanity" -- and it sounds a lot more scientific than eating Twinkies.
Another "48 Hours" first was a look inside the sentencing hearing for Jacob Burgoyne. The father of Richard Davis was allowed to speak, and let him have it - saying: "There's not a man in this world who's man enough for you." Now hold on.
When did homosexuality come up in this?
Lanny Davis admits he'll never forgive the soldiers who killed his son. In fact, he and his wife keep a small memorial to Richard Davis in the woods off Milgen Road where he died. So much for that land ever being rezoned for military housing....
The CBS broadcast also dared to mention something no one in Columbus wants to say a lot about - that the Third Brigade already is planning for a third tour of duty in Iraq. I'm hearing a training exercise will take place in California next January. So if you have a used car to sell, the clock is ticking.
BLOG UPDATE: But now to the HUGE news of the weekend - that Candace Cook is leaving WRBL. The woman who won the vote of blog readers for the best hair in Columbus [20-28 May 04] is moving out of town! And we never even learned the name of her stylist....
I'm told Candace Cook and her husband are moving back to their home area of Philadelphia. Maybe they'll run into Maria LaRosa there - and they can swap stories about how primitive Columbus is, with only one or two restaurants selling cheese steaks.
E-MAIL UPDATE: He's baa-ack....
Bob thinks we are blind not to notice all this is taking place just before his defeat, I mean campaign against Jim Wetherington. I know Bob reads my emails that I send him because he gets very angry at me for telling the truth. Well here is one more truth Bob, you are outta here. You had your chance and you messed it up. Do you think that ANYONE that works in Public Safety is going to believe anything you have to say and vote for you? You are sadly mistaken. Like I said, the best thing for you to do is fake an illness or say you are not running in order to spend more time with your family. That way you can slide out of office with the very small bit of dignity you have left.
Registered voter and non-Bob supporter,
Brent Rollins
At least Mayor Poydasheff can save money on his campaign signs - by simply putting "Bob" on them. Apparently everyone knows who that means.
"IsOurCitySafe" Brent Rollins included with his taunt an article from Saturday's Ledger-Enquirer. Almost all the reporters covering Friday's Crimestoppers party apparently overlooked a comment by Sheriff Ralph Johnson, warning plenty of police officers could leave next year. And in the last three years, I only recall him firing one....
Mayor Bob Poydasheff responded to the Sheriff's warning by saying Columbus only has the money right now for 92 percent of the salaries recommended by an independent pay study. Where I come from, 92 percent is an A grade - but some people apparently only are happy with perfection.
The political mix continued Saturday at Lonnie Jackson's "pre-Memorial Day celebration" on Buena Vista Road. Some people were disappointed by the turnout - but Mr. Jackson should have told Muscogee County schools to hold a couple of commencement ceremonies on Sunday, to accommodate him.
Mayor Bob Poydasheff spoke at the pre-Memorial Day ceremony. Then someone spotted Jim Wetherington in the audience, and invited him to make a speech as well. And on top of that, Jerry Barnes used the event to announce he'll run against Nathan Suber for Columbus Council. It's nice to see we're putting our soldiers first....
Columbus NAACP President Bill Madison attended the pre-Memorial Day ceremony as well -- only he wasn't running for anything. Instead, he talked about how people forget veterans as war "becomes a distant past." Distant past?! I thought the Third Brigade returned home less than six months ago.
By the way: did you see Richard Hyatt's column in the Ledger-Enquirer on the mayor's race? He noted both "Jim-Bob" candidates live in Green Island Hills. The last time they really had to worry about public safety was when detectives visited Eric Buffong's house.
Before I get in any deeper trouble, let's quickly wrap up other weekend headlines:
+ A Kia official confirmed construction on the West Point plant is being delayed. A statement blamed it on legal problems involving Hyundai executives in South Korea. Aw c'mon - did that stop Martha Stewart from publishing a magazine?
+ The Columbus Public Library hosted a "Bike Safety Rodeo," in which youngsters were given free bicycle helmets. Now if someone please will tell them to ride on the street - so they don't mow down joggers like me on the sidewalk....
+ The first Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop in Columbus opened near (duh) Columbus Park Crossing. Republicans who want an ice cream stand of their own should ask Shooters firing range to expand a bit.
+ The "Real Time" telecast on NBC-38 found Bill Purvis discussing "The DaVinci Code" - and the upper deck at Cascade Hills Church looked almost empty. Do you think members expected Purvis to read from Dan Brown's book, and not the Bible?
+ Columbus State's baseball team was eliminated from the NCAA playoffs, in a game where the Cougars committed five errors. When they have more mistakes in a game than some radio talk shows have in a week, it's not a good sign.
+ Instant Message to Tiger Eye Martial Arts Academy on South Lumpkin Road: You mean TIGER Eye, right? So why does the banner on your window show not only your name, but an eagle?
BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $2.60 a gallon at Summit, 15th and Veterans Parkway.... FREE "Arts in the Park" today at Lakebottom Park.... and based on history, rain falling on Arts in the Park at some point....
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