Yesterday a jury in Wake County convicted Markeith Council, a former detention officer at the Wake County jail, of involuntary manslaughter for killing inmate Shon McClain, who was jailed on misdemeanor charges, after McClain fought the guard. A video shown at the trial shows the much larger Council slamming McClain twice on the concrete floor. The State prosecuted Council for the more serious charge of voluntary manslaughter, a Class D felony, but the jury convicted of him of the lesser offense, a Class F felony. Council will now serve 90 days in the jail that he used to guard. In other news, Lawrence v. Texas? Only in Bollywood. The Supreme Court of India earlier this week ruled that a lower court erred in striking down an 1861 law that banned gay sex. The New York Times has the story here. While the law apparently was rarely enforced even before the lower court ruling, it reportedly was used by corrupt police to harass and intimidate gay men and women. The Downside of an Improving Economy. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that the number of traffic fatalities and alcohol-related deaths rose in North Carolina and across the country last year. Experts say the increase is likely due to the improving economy. More driving leads to more accidents and more fatalities. While the number of fatalities is up, the fatality rate as a percentage of miles traveled continues to decline. Tax Troubles. Former NCSU basketball coach Sidney Lowe resolved his tax troubles [...]
Faculty Coordinators
