Rock star's shooting case, another dropped by DA
Posted by The Times-Picayune July 26, 2007 9:30PM
By Gwen Filosa
Staff writer
Even a rock star has trouble finding justice in the New Orleans courts these days.
For the second time since they first brought the case three years ago, Orleans Parish prosecutors Thursday dismissed all charges against a man accused of robbing and shooting rock 'n' roll legend Ray Davies in the Faubourg Marigny.
Instead of facing trial for the 2004 armed robbery and aggravated battery, Jerome Barra, 28, was freed and the case was closed at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
District Attorney Eddie Jordan's office said charges were dropped because Davies, of London, who emerged during the 1960s British Invasion as the frontman for The Kinks, didn't appear Thursday for trial.
Prosecutors sent word of the trial to Davies only a few days ago, asking him to come testify, according to the rock musician. Davies' absence at a scheduled trial in 2005 prompted Jordan's office to drop the case then, reserving the right to take a second swipe at Barra.
Davies, however, said he couldn't possibly have made it to New Orleans with what he called such scant notice. He expressed dismay with the merry-go-round pattern of the criminal case since he took a bullet in the leg three years ago during a visit to the city.
"I am very disappointed with the way this case has been handled," Davies said Thursday. "I intend to pursue it further."
Jordan's spokesman Dalton Savwoir would only say Thursday that Davies being a no-show tanked the trial and the case, but court records show that prosecutors, the defense and Judge Calvin Johnson committed to the trial date on May 17...
much more http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/...ase_anoth.html
Posted by The Times-Picayune July 26, 2007 9:30PM
By Gwen Filosa
Staff writer
Even a rock star has trouble finding justice in the New Orleans courts these days.
For the second time since they first brought the case three years ago, Orleans Parish prosecutors Thursday dismissed all charges against a man accused of robbing and shooting rock 'n' roll legend Ray Davies in the Faubourg Marigny.
Instead of facing trial for the 2004 armed robbery and aggravated battery, Jerome Barra, 28, was freed and the case was closed at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
District Attorney Eddie Jordan's office said charges were dropped because Davies, of London, who emerged during the 1960s British Invasion as the frontman for The Kinks, didn't appear Thursday for trial.
Prosecutors sent word of the trial to Davies only a few days ago, asking him to come testify, according to the rock musician. Davies' absence at a scheduled trial in 2005 prompted Jordan's office to drop the case then, reserving the right to take a second swipe at Barra.
Davies, however, said he couldn't possibly have made it to New Orleans with what he called such scant notice. He expressed dismay with the merry-go-round pattern of the criminal case since he took a bullet in the leg three years ago during a visit to the city.
"I am very disappointed with the way this case has been handled," Davies said Thursday. "I intend to pursue it further."
Jordan's spokesman Dalton Savwoir would only say Thursday that Davies being a no-show tanked the trial and the case, but court records show that prosecutors, the defense and Judge Calvin Johnson committed to the trial date on May 17...
much more http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/...ase_anoth.html
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