The Charlotte Observer du lieu suivant : Charlotte, North Carolina • 23

tF 4 1 4 4 THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Tuesday November 22 1 994 -3C Jury begins deliberations in murder trial Gold Mine Rolex Diamonds Estate Jewelry Diamonds Rolex Loose Mounted Pre-Owned Like New problems that Ingle inherited But Kromis reminded jurors that Ingle stands accused of killing two beloved Gaston County residents who were doing nothing more than enjoying a Sunday night together Kromis also cited testimony that Ingle told investigators he would have killed again if he caught "Phillip Ingle has been Kromis told jurors up to you to see that Phillip Ingle does not do it Phillip Ingle pleads insanity in deaths of elderly Cherryville couple prosecutor seeks death penalty By CHIP WILSON Staff Writer GASTONIA Jurors today will start choosing between the two sides of Phillip Ingle portrayed during his monthlong murder trial To convict him they must judge Ingle a cold-blooded killer who stalked an elderly Cherryville couple maliciously beat them and carefully covered nearly all his tracks To acquit him they must accept his insanity defense and see Ingle Mike Kromis told jurors in his closing argument Kromis who is seeking the death penalty contended that Ingle saw the killings as a contest He said Ingle reveled in victory especially because he overcame EZ attempts to fight back then killed the couple with repeated blows So hard did Ingle strike Kromis said that one blow left a deep gash on an oven door in the Willis home So carefully did Ingle plan he said that the only trace he left of himself was a palm print on the window through which he entered the Willis house Investigators caught up with Ingle only after he boasted to longtime friend Jeff Houser about kill as a tormented child who grew into a tortured adult incapable of distinguishing right from wrong Ingle 33 is accused of first-degree murder in the 1991 deaths of EZ and Sarah Willis His own lawyers concede that he broke into the Willis home and beat the couple with a tire iron Prosecutors contended that Ingle targeted elderly victims because they fight back They said the slayings of the Willises and a Rutherford County couple killed six weeks earlier were too well-plotted and eerily similar to have sprung from a mind Ingle avoid responsibility for what he has done by saying Tm and claiming an insanity defense prosecutor ing the Rutherford couple Fred and Margaret Davis He was convicted in those slayings and received two death sentences attorneys put a different spin on why Ingle sought out Houser was crying out for help" defense attorney Kelly Morris told jurors in his closing argument Morris said Ingle visualized his victims as demons and his violent actions as noble that make any sense to you?" defense attorney Ralph Rutledge asked jurors in his closing argument He said that was evidence enough of insanity Rutledge reminded jurors of the extensive testimony about troubled life as the child of woman who still has severe mental "Dealer Prices To The Public" 375- KHS (4653) Charlotte Merchandise Mart Suite A311 Charlotte-area crimes down statistics show A police report said the suspect became angry during a discussion between Stitt and her daughter about prior assaults He drew a small handgun and fired it once above his head police said As someone jumped toward him the report said the suspect fired again hitting Stitt She was pronounced dead at Carolinas Medical Center at 3:14 pm Woman missing since Wednesday husband says Charlotte police are looking for a woman reported to have stepped outside her home last Wednesday and disappeared Babette Julie Payne 39 of 4800-9 Henderson Cir is still missing police said Monday husband Floyd Robert Payne reported her missing last Thursday At about 8:30 the previous night he said Julie Payne stepped outside for some fresh air When she return Payne said he noticed her 1993 Geo Metro and a bottle of liquor were also gone Julie Payne is 5 feet 10 weighs 125 pounds has blond shoulder length hair blue eyes and a pock mark on her left temple She was last seen wearing a black leather jacket and jeans Her cranberry 1993 Geo Metro has NC license tag number FRC-6461 Bruce Henderson The Ultimate Adventure Christmas Gift Certificates onSale A yearlong decline in Charlotte-Mecklenburg murders rapes robberies and aggravated assaults continued in October according to crime statistics released Monday Some categories such as rape and robbery rose 71 and 227 in October from the previous month But year-to-date totals showed murder down 30 rape down 94 robbery down 214 aggravated assault down 77 and burglary down 145 from a year ago Larcenies were down 04 In all violent crime is down 124 so far this year and property crimes are down 42 The statistics cover Charlotte and the unincorporated areas of Mecklenburg County Man charged with murder in shooting death Charlotte police on Sunday charged a man with killing a woman they said was his girlfriend Johnny Lee Flemming 55 of 3033-B Karen Ct was charged with murder in the shooting death of Deborah Regina Stitt 4 1 who lived at the same address most experienced pilots FAA Certified 20 years 3500 hours 12000 passengers Well maintained New Balloons equipment $125 pp No Advance Purchase-1 Hr Fit $95 pp 3 Day Advance Purchase I Hr Fit $90 pp 14 Day Advance Purchase 1 Hr FI I $75 pp 14 Day Advance Purchase 30 min Ft I aUDDnsQuBrGhariotle Associated Press mo 5417050 FOR INFO FREE BROCHURE I VISA Rally: Tony Johnson and his wife Sherry shout their approval for the Confederate flag at a rally held Sunday in Bladenboro NC The rally was held to support Johnson a textile worker who said he was fired from his job at Mayo Yarns Inc for refusing to remove a Confederate flag sticker from his toolbox Rebel flag backers support fired worker LIGHT A CANDLE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON For Someone You Love LIGHTS OF LOVE Sunday December 11 1994 Rain Date December 18 1994 Shop the International Jewelry FairGenerd Merchandise Show Charlotte Merchandise Mart Casual and Elegant Apparel Costume and Fine Jewelry and General Merchandise Between the hours of 6:00 PM until 10:00 PM your family is invited to ride through SHARON MEMORIAL PARK comer of Sharon Amity and Monroe Road and see a Spectacular Display of 10000 Luminary Candles EACH LUMINARY CAN BE PERSONALIZED WITH A LOVED NAME To reserve a Luminary Candle to be lit in memory of a loved one near or far away or in honor of someone special complete the form below and mail with a minimum $2 donation (each luminary) to: MADD PO BOX 13113 CHARLOTTE NC 28270 All proceeds benefit the Mecklenburg County Chapter of Mo then Against Drunk Driving openIL MhMhdo In Memory Honor of Show Hours: Friday December 9 12 noon-7 pm Saturday December 10 10 am-7 pm Sunday December 11 10am-6pm Produced by Brett Tradeshows Inc 1-800-541-8171 Associated Press BLADENBORO Tony Johnson fired for displaying a Confederate flag sticker on his toolbox says Mayo Yarns denied him his right to celebrate his heritage The plant manager who fired him however says Johnson after repeated warnings was denying his co-workers their right to a workplace free of harassment On Sunday an estimated 300 Bladenboro residents bikers and members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans gathered in Wateree Park to support Johnson They waved flags and carried signs that read Not and And Proud" Johnson 27 stood quietly at the rally waving a huge Confederate flag and wearing a flag T-shirt and flag bandanna He reluctantly took the stage when asked and thanked everyone for coming Not displaying the flag is a part of Mayo anti-harassment policy plant manager Ed Harris said Monday Johnson was one of three of the 225 employees asked to get rid of Confederate flag stickers after a black employee complained Harris said One employee painted over his sticker and another removed his he said Johnson however refused thus violating the policy which is clearly defined in the employee handbook Harris said "Mayo Yarns recognizes individual rights and beliefs but within the workplace the primary duty is to create an atmosphere of productivity and safety Harris said The policy is equally applied Harris said Recently some black employees were asked to stop wearing hats and T-shirts with symbols commemorating Malcolm The black employees agreed to do so the Confederate flag is intimidation to blacks the sometimes is intimidation to other folks" Harris said At the rally Sunday speakers denounced the plant for what they called its bigotry injustice and intolerance for firing Johnson no longer going to sit around while our heritage is being attacked and run said Tim Benton He is one of three Bladenboro City Council members who approved a resolution criticizing the plant last week Benton is also commander of the Bladenboro chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Johnson worked as a technician at the plant for six years until Aug 23 when he said he was fired He said the sticker about the size of a credit card had been on his toolbox for more than two years when a shift manager told him to take it off He refused Several days later he said he was fired for violating the harassment policy At rally supporters filled the tool box with money for Johnson and his wife Please list additional names on separate sheet Donation llffilTTfd jlVCi klaj For information call 537-5011 or 365-8213 a a a sk rj YOUR NEXT SERVICE CALL As a Carrier Master Dealer we hate tile products and the know-how to keep ton comfortable all tear long From a pie-season check-up on tour Inmate or heat pump to the design and installation of a new Carrier heating and cooling Mstem our professionals will do entiling necessart to impiote tour indoor air quaint and total home comfort Call us and sate MO the next time tour system needs sert ice You'll discoter the difference a Cimer Master Dealer can make! Christmas Bureau taking applications for aid This cvpirvs II Vl i and is mil iill with an iithiT oiler lunrt one uupon ixt lHHMlokl Min pncnt uuipon sg Irit Mruu remit it Danny Phillips Ross Witmer in Charlotte 392-6188 Brian Houser Reinhardt Htg AC Inc in Lmcolnton 735-491 9 Bud Parks Parks Htg Cooling Inc in Charlotte 596-8200 Butch Hinson Carolina Comfort Systems In Denver 483-3604 Bill Calloway Ralph Furr All Temp Co Inc I in Charlotte 531-9986 family member Medicaid cards for each family member (if they have one) birth certificates for newborns (6 months or younger) a recent utility bill showing current address and proof of family income (most recent pay stub for example) The bureau is sponsored by United Way of Central Carolinas The Salvation Army Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and The Charlotte Empty Stocking Fund Last year it helped 14516 families For more information call Monika King at the bureau 333-NOEL 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays Jeri Fischer Krerttz Christmas Bureau is accepting applications from people who need help Families who meet qualification requirements receive two new toys a stuffed stocking for each child younger than 14 and food vouchers based on family size Children ages 14 to 17 receive one gift Registration is 9 am to 4 pm Mondays Wednesdays Thursdays and Fridays and from 9 am to 7 pm Tuesdays at the bureau 500 Spratt St The registration deadline is Dec 9 Registrants need to bring a NC license or picture ID card a Social Security card for each i fesa i mm rnimmrn Mag.