Cherish McCullough was 19 when she was booked and charged with first-degree murder. Her case could soon swirl with controversy over a community’s value of human life.
McCullough has pleaded not guilty of stabbing 27-year-old LaShanda Callaway after an argument in a convenience store at 2601 N. Hillside. At her trial, which begins next week, the public is expected to see for the first time a security video of the stabbing that raised concerns beyond the crime itself.
Soon after Callaway’s death on June 24, 2007, Wichita police chief Norman Williams told Eagle columnist Mark McCormick that the video showed people continuing to shop, some even snapping cell-phone pictures of the fallen woman.
Jury selection is expected to start Monday. Richard Ney will represent McCullough for the defense. C.J. Rieg is prosecuting.
I’ve gotten some e-mails the past couple of days from people who wanted to comment on the story about three illegal immigrants convicted of counterfeiting. But they didn’t find a place to leave a comment on those stories.
An explanation: The Eagle has policies of not allowing comments on certain stories containing sensitive issues. These include stories that name defendants or children in peril. This evolved from past stories, where we’ve actually had members of families of both defendants and victims get in online shouting matches. Not pretty.
Those like me who are old enough to remember the “Dragnet” television show will remember the term “to protect the innocent.” That’s what we’re trying to do with those stories, since a commenter might post libelous claims about someone who’s innocent. If you post a comment on this forum, you assume legal responsibility for what you say.
Most of my stories on Wichita courts do not allow comments. But they are allowed on this blog. Blogs are meant to be a conversation. Just be civil. If it gets out of hand, I can see my bosses limiting comments here, too. And we’d like to keep this an open forum.