News in brief: 1.12 Issue

MURDER CASES NEAR MAIN CAMPUS TO CONTINUE TODAY 

Two homicide cases involving incidents around Main Campus are scheduled to continue today.

Randolph Sanders, 37, was arrested February 1, 2015 for the January 2015 murder of Kim Jones. Jones was waiting at a bus stop when she was shot in the back of the head at 9:15 a.m. Sanders was identified less than a month later in surveillance tapes and confessed to the murder.

After a formal arraignment March 11 where Sanders was informed of the full charges against him—which include murder, carrying a firearm in public without a license and a possession of an instrument of crime with intent—Sanders moved to the pre-trial phase of the case.

The pre-trial conference, where evidence can be reviewed before the trial, has lasted more than ten months, and has been rescheduled nine times. Michael Coard, Sanders’ defense attorney, has filed a request for further investigation 6 times during the pretrial conference meetings.

Sanders’ pre-trial conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. today.

Coard could not be reached for comment on the case. Assistant District Attorneys also declined to comment on the case.

Brandon Meade, 29, is charged with the Aug. 31 murder of  Agatha Hall, a Temple student and Meade’s girlfriend. Investigators  say he staged the murder to look like a suicide. He was arrested Sept. 17.

Meade faces charges for murder, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, false reports that incriminated another and tampering and fabricating evidence.

After a Dec. 2 request for further investigation from defense attorney Evan Hughes, Meade’s case will move on to the pre-trial conference, scheduled for today.

Since then, Hughes has declined to comment.

Law professors at Temple were also asked to comment on both cases, but declined.

-Julie Christie

SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTED IN UNIVERSITY VILLAGE 

A sexual assault that occurred in early December was reported last Wednesday, Jan. 6.

A female freshman was assaulted in University Village between 11:50 p.m. Dec. 4 and 2 a.m. Dec. 5, said Charlie Leone, executive director of Campus Safety Services.

Leone added the victim did not want any police involvement.

“We assume it was a student, but she was very vague and didn’t tell us what happened or who did it,” Leone said.

He added the student reported the assault after initially talking to the officials involved in the Title IX investigation of Temple.

Leone said the student was informed of counseling resources.

“I’m hoping with more time and support she’ll be willing to give us more information,” Leone said.

-Julie Christie

CONSTRUCTION TO AFFECT TRAFFIC AND FOOD TRUCKS 

Students are returning to limited walking space on Norris Street between Broad and 12th streets.

Philadelphia Gas Works construction crews are working to fix a broken power line, a university spokesman said. Pedestrians should walk east or west around the affected areas and exercise caution while construction continues, the spokesman added.

13th Street has also been closed between Montgomery Avenue and Norris Street and several food trucks like Burger Tank and Footlong Truck have been relocated.

The crews will be working on an intermittent basis until Feb. 1, the spokesman said. Work started Dec. 15.

A PGW spokesman could not be reached for comment.

-Lila Gordon

MEMO: HOVERBOARDS NOW BANNED ON MAIN CAMPUS 

Hoverboards are now prohibited on all university campuses, according to a memo from Jim Creedon, vice president of construction, facilities and operations.

Safety concerns like hoverboard-related fires and potential injuries to pedestrians and riders contributed to the decision, according to the memo.

Hoverboards are not permitted to be used, charged or stored on all campuses, in all residence halls and all academic buildings “unless or until the university determines that appropriate standards can be implemented to reduce associated safety and fire risks,” the email said.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also released a statement addressing the potential safety hazards of hoverboards.

About 20 universities have also placed a ban on hoverboards including George Washington University, Emerson College and the University of South Carolina.

-Lian Parsons

MONTEIRO ORGANIZES ACTIVISM CONFERENCE 

On Saturday, a two-day conference for African-American activists highlighted support for the Black Lives Matter movement and called for pushback against police brutality.

The lineup of speakers included 1960s activist Angela Davis, who addressed the conference about police and prisons.

“The entire history of police and prisons is of reform and look where we are today,” Davis said during the conference. “We want an end to policing as we know it.”

Anthony Monteiro, former African American studies professor, organized the event.

About 1,500 people registered for the event, the Inquirer reported.

-Lian Parsons