Sep 11, 2008 7:42 pm US/Eastern
Eyewitness Testifies At Homeless Beating Trial
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
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FAU surveillance camera videotaped the beatings on Jan. 12th 2006 in Fort Lauderdale.
CBS
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Joey Griffith testifies at homeless beating trial in Fort Lauderdale.
CBS
Testimony has ended for the day at the trial of two Broward teens, accused of brutally beating three homeless men and killing one of them, and it has opened old wounds for the victim's family.
One of the state's key eyewitnesses, Joey Griffith, was on the stand for a second day Thursday, and told the jury about the night his former friends, Thomas Daugherty, 19, and Brian Hooks, 21, went on a rampage that left two homeless men hospitalized and one dead. Griffith held up a baseball bat in court, in order to recreate the alleged beating that occurred allegedly at the hands of his friends.
Daugherty and Hooks are charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder for their roles in the January 12, 2006 beatings.
Gloria Gaynor, mother of dead victim Norris Gaynor, spoke to
CBS4's Joan Murray, reminding everyone that many of the homeless on our streets have families who keep them in their thoughts everyday, and even keep in touch with them.
"He called me for birthdays, and Mothers Day," said Gaynor. "He was going to make sure I heard his voice on these days, and Christmas, just to say 'I love you.'"
Gaynor learned after her son's death that he cared too much to tell her how life was going for him.
"He wouldn't tell me things; he would call his sister and talk," said Gaynor. "And a lot of things about him was coming out at the trial now, I didn't even know."
Thursday's witness, Griffith, was with Daugherty and Hooks during two of the attacks but was not charged. Prosecutors say he did not take part in the beatings and went home scared after the fatal attack on 45-year old Gaynor.
Griffith told the jury he and his friends were driving around, smoking marijuana, when one of them suggested they "go beat up some bums."
The first attack was on 60-year old Jacques Pierre, who was brutally beaten outside Florida Atlantic University in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It was the attack seen around the world because it was captured on surveillance video. That video, already shown to the jury, is a key piece of evidence.
The second attack took place in Esplanade Park. Norris Gaynor was sitting on a park bench when he was beaten so badly, he died from his injuries. Griffith testified a third accused assailant, William "Billy" Ammons, pelted Gaynor with paintballs while Daugherty swung the baseball bat.
The final attack was on 52-year old Raymond Perez, outside the Church-by-the Sea.
Both Perez and Pierre have already testified at the trial.
Prosecutors say Daugherty and Hooks were high on Xanax, vodka and marijuana when they went out to beat up homeless people but their lawyer says they had no desire to kill or cause serious harm.
Daugherty and Hooks could face life in prison if convicted.
The third suspect, William "Billy" Ammons, 21, is expected to testify on Monday when the trial resumes. Ammons previously accepted a deal from prosecutors to testify against his former friends. He pled guilty in May to third-degree murder and aggravated battery in exchange for a 10 to 20-year sentence.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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