IS THERE JUSTICE IN CLEAR LAKE, LAKE COUNTY?
“Is this trial about protecting the drug dealer or is it about justice?” Stuart Hanlon, Defense Counsel, Motion Hearing on October 11, 2007
"If Shannon Edmonds invokes the 5th amendment during trial, his entire testimony, should be stricken and there should be a mistrial, Stuart Hanlon challenges the court."
On the night of December 7, 2005, Christian Foster and Renato Hughes went to visit their old friend Rashad Williams who was living in Clearlake with his grandmother. Christian has not seen Rashad for a long time before that night. Rashad's grandmother last remembers seeing the boys watching videos before she went to bed. That's the last time she saw Christian and Rashad alive. Rashad's mother thinks the boys must have decided to buy some weed before going to the casino. Now, Renato is on trial for his life before Judge William McKinstry.
On the night of December 7, 2005, Christian Foster and Renato Hughes went to visit their old friend Rashad Williams who was living in Clearlake with his grandmother. Christian has not seen Rashad for a long time before that night. Rashad's grandmother last remembers seeing the boys watching videos before she went to bed. That's the last time she saw Christian and Rashad alive. Rashad's mother thinks the boys must have decided to buy some weed before going to the casino. Now, Renato is on trial for his life before Judge William McKinstry.
Judge William McKinstry ruled on October 11, 2007 that if Shannon Edmonds, the admitted murderer of Rashad Williams and Christian Foster invokes the 5th amendment (the right against self incrimination), his entire testimony will be disallowed. This could result in a mistrial. Then, Renato Hughes will be free after serving 2 years in a Lake County jail for the murder of his boyhood friends – a crime everyone knows he did not commit. If only justice could be this swift...
How about the killer? Will he pay the price for taking 2 young lives and attempting to destroy a third? Or will he continue to walk around a free man?
WHO IS SHANNON EDMONDS?
Shannon Edmonds is the star witness of the prosecution, District Attorney (DA) Jon Hopkins.
Edmonds shot Christian Foster 5 times and Rashad Williams 2 times in the back while both boys were fleeing for their lives out in the street. He was not in imminent danger when he killed them. On the contrary, he hunted them down.
Edmonds, according to “police records”, is a known marijuana grower and drug dealer. He recruits kids and his step sons to sell his marijuana to other kids. Rashad Williams has been to Edmond’s house to buy marijuana from him – a claim Edmonds denies. After all, selling drugs to kids is a crime of moral turpitude, contributing to the delinquency of minors.
Edmonds is a batterer. Edmonds reported to the police that he and his wife tried to commit suicide. His wife, however, filed a restraining order against him. She said, “He tried to kill me, threatened to beat me up if I didn’t take the pills and won’t let me go or use the phone.”
Edmonds has a history of violence. His wife’s statement to the police “I am afraid of him because I saw him shoot his brother.” “Edmonds start punching the wall and broke the coffee table. He shot his brother and took his dope.” She also said “He would find another way to kill her.”
Despite the wife’s claim of attempted murder, no charges were filed by the District Attorney against Edmonds. There was no investigation. There was evidence showing that the District Attorney was called to the scene and got involved.
When asked why the case was not treated as a domestic violence case, the District Attorney’s reply was simplistic, “She was not threatened. Edmonds took both of them to the hospital.” Hanlon argued, “In any other place in California or the country, this would be treated as domestic violence.”
Police reports show Edmonds takes various drugs: Lexapro is used to treat major depressive disorder. Side effects may include impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, and aggressiveness. If the patient is bipolar, he may not use Lexapro. Edmonds takes Neurontin for seizures. The side effects for neurontin may be hostility, depression, or emotional lability. Lability is commonly observed after brain injury or degeneration. Edmonds also used marijuana the night of the murder. Edmonds also takes Triazadon, a treatment for bipolar disorders. People with bipolar disorders may be stable one minute and raving and hitting people the next. Edmonds did not take Triazadon the night of the murder according to the police report.
Edmonds lies. In Mendocino, Edmond’s brother hit him in the head with a vacuum cleaner. Edmonds claims he does not remember. He does not remember his brother being shot. His wife contends he shot his brother and tried to kill him. In the Lake County Mental Health report, Edmonds said “it was his girlfriend’s idea to commit suicide making him overdose.”
ARMED HOME INVASION, DRUG DEAL GONE BAD, OR ALTERCATION/MURDER?
There is no question that Shannon killed both Williams and Foster. Unless he can justify the homicide, he is liable for double murder.
Edmonds alleged that William, Foster and Hughes invaded his home using deadly weapons to rob him of his marijuana. According to the police report, after killing Williams and Foster, Shannon ran down the street yelling at anyone who could hear to call the police. Within minutes, the police arrived.
The police officer dispatched to the crime scene reported the following: “There were 3 black males who had just broken into a residence. As I was en route to the call, dispatch gave information via radio that there were shots fired.”
Edmonds gave conflicting statements to the police as to what happened the night of the murder. Some of his statements indicate a free for all fight or altercation rather than an armed home invasion as noted below:
· Edmonds was yelling at one, Kyle Tacket “There he is that mother f&*^*r that started all of this mess! He was inside the house when this happened!”
· He opened his eyes to see a couple of black kids and two shot guns. One had a mask over part of his face. He could tell that they were black because of their hands and their forehead. One of them jumped on his wife. One or both kept yelling, “where’s the weed mother f*^%r?”
· They entered armed with a baseball bat and a shot gun.
· 5 people broke into the house with hammer and shotgun.
· “They started down the hall. Don’t know if I fired at them. Got to the living room just 2 guys.”
RUSH TO JUDGMENT
On December 9, 2005, 2 days after the crime, DA Jon Hopkins filed a case against Renato Hughes under the provocative act murder theory for the double murder of his friends, perpetrated in the course of committing a felony, an armed home invasion, with special circumstance punishable by death, if convicted.
The DA did not pursue any other theory even though there was evidence to the contrary:
Instead of a “break in”, there may have been an argument over marijuana sales resulting in the altercation. There were at least 2 other boys at the scene according to reports – they smoked marijuana with Edmonds before and dealt with his 2 stepsons. They had altercations with Edmond’s stepsons the day before the crime. Williams had bought marijuana from Edmonds and had also dealt with the 2 stepsons.
The only gun found linked to the crime belongs to Edmonds -- a 9mm semiautomatic Browning without a serial number and is not registered.
Six to seven weeks after the crime, a shotgun allegedly used in the home invasion was found in a pathway frequented by the public. It was covered with light rust, can’t date and no DNA was found; a generic shotgun. The DA failed to connect the gun with the crime and the 3 men. Edmonds claimed conflicting stories about the guns –“1 or 2 or a rifle sticking out of the boys’ hands.”
Hughes “did not go to the direction where the gun was found”.
Did the dogs miss it? The gun did not test.
Edmond’s young daughter said “either her brother or dad had the baseball bat used to bash the head of her step brother resulting in brain damage.”
There was no positive identification of Rashad Williams, Renato Hughes and Christian Foster during the line up. Edmonds said of Williams, “he looks familiar”, as he should since Williams bought marijuana from him before.
Evidence obtained by the DA was provided by the killer himself as they were moving items out of the residence, 3 days after his house was thoroughly searched by investigators. Shannon found a hammer and a white and black bandanna on their bedroom floor.
TRIAL BY PUBLIC OPINION
The rush to judgment by the DA provoked trial and conviction by public opinion of Williams, Foster and Hughes. The DA, police, judge, local media and the public bought in on the home invasion theory.
The FreeRepublic, a website, had the following comments:
“I don’t care if he shot them inside the house or outside the house; these SOB’s deserved what they got!”
“I love a happy ending.”
“I guess the trio picked the wrong “mall” to shop at, this gives new importance to “Authorized Personnel Only”.
“I love to start out a day with good news – don’t you?”
The “felony” murder rule. Sometimes ya just gotta stand back and admire this little piece of criminal law Americana.”
“Two out of three is not bad.”
The prevalent negative publicity perpetuated by the DA could have seriously poisoned the jury pool which prompted the Defense’s efforts to change venue which was denied.
WHY IS EDMONDS PROTECTED?
Some websites in the alternative media refer to Clearlake as the “meth” capital of California with a population of 14,877. The city government was created in 1980. The budget is $8.9 million. It has 8 cops.
The mystery: Is DA Hopkins protecting Edmonds by pinning the crime on Renato Hughes? Is he protecting a drug dealer or seeking justice?
Jon Hopkins said, “We’re proceeding on a provocative-act murder theory”, “If you do something that can provoke a lethal response, “you’re liable for the crime partner’s death.”
DA Hopkins is using a convoluted and archaic theory to try to avoid prosecuting the real killer in this case. Provocative-Act murder is only available while you are in danger. It is rarely used because it is subject to abuse. It begs the question: Is there a relationship between the District Attorney and Shannon Edmonds?
“He should be treated as a drug dealer. He took 2 boys’ lives and now he wants to take the 3rd one. Where is justice in that? That doesn’t make any sense. They were fleeing the scene. They were murdered! This is a case of “double murder, double standard,” exclaimed Kenneth Block, ‘Coach Ken’, at Balboa High School.
“These are great kids who volunteered at Lick Wilmerding High School during the summer,” says Coach Ken who knew the boys personally. “The public should know that these boys are kind loving boys who have everything going for them.”
RASHAD WILLIAMS
“Rashad had a beautiful smile, reminisces his former track coach, Coach Ken at Balboa High School. He is a good kid.”
Ken coaches City Track Club for James Denham Middle School and works as security at Balboa High School. He is also a board member for the U.S.A. Track and Field, Junior Olympics. “Rashad ran track for me.”
Ken coached Rashad at the City Track Club based at City College of San Francisco and Riordan High School. “The City Track Club is for 6-18 years old. They train cross-country. Rashad ran for 3 years. He was part of the team when the Columbine incident happened. Here was a black boy reaching out to a white boy. Rashad was 7th in the nation in track and field by the time he was 14 years old. He became a celebrity and used his celebrity status to raise money for Riordan High School.”
“He was upset with Riordan when he flunked 2 classes, but was not given a way to work around it by remedial classes, etc. After that, he made some bad choices but I can understand. Where is his second chance?” continues Coach Ken. “To shoot the people in the back while they are running away, this is “not justice. Why didn’t the District Attorney want to prosecute Edmonds on seemingly any case?” ask Coach Ken.
CHRISTIAN FOSTER
His mother describe Christian Foster as “a loving, caring son with a heart of gold”. He was loved by everyone and had a smile that could “light up a room.”
“The DA has impounded Christian’s car since December 7, 2005 and won’t give it back, even though he will not be using it as evidence for the trial. The family has continued paying the note on the car since then.”
“They let my son bleed to death. Why was there no dying declaration? Why didn’t they ask my son what happened?” They planted the drug dealer’s wallet and keys in my son’s pants pocket. The bandana the dealer found in his bedroom was in the trunk of Christian’s car. Christian has never been to Clearlake. Renato just asked him for a ride to Clearlake. He was on a winter break while attending college. He wanted to become a youth guidance counselor for under privileged and under represented adolescents when he graduated.
Christian’s parents, Sherrill and Howard Foster have been married for 29 years. Christian went to A.P Giannini, then Thurgood Marshall. He was attending Notre Dame De Namur in Belmont when he was killed. His brother is an ex-San Francisco police officer who was injured in the line of duty and his sister is a high school honor student. His father works for the U.S. Postal Service and his mother works for an insurance company.
RENATO HUGHES
Judy Hughes, Renato’s mother is a teacher for the San Francisco Unified School District. Judy has 3 kids. The oldest girl is also a teacher in San Francisco schools studying for her PhD. Just like his mom and his sister, Renato teaches grades K to 8 children at the Freedom School. Renato is studying Business at San Jose State University. He wants to own his own business.
Judy carries around Renato’s awards. “Renato is kind hearted. He won awards. He played the cello. He has a 2 year old baby. He played cello with the Golden Gate Philharmonic Orchestra. He went to Sunday School teaching at San Francisco Christian Center, involved in football, basketball, baseball, track and field.”
FAMILY TOGETHER: KEEPING DREAMS ALIVE
The 3 boys were classmates when they went to FellowshipAcademy.
Sheila Burton wishes every day that “this is a just a bad dream… I’ll wake up and my son will be here.”
Meanwhile, the families’ friends are working hard to free Renato and keep the memory of Christian and Rashad alive. Sheila is defiant about the way her son Rashad has been painted in the media. “My son has been killed, now they are slandering his name!” Christian’s sister has put up a website in My Space. If only DA Hopkins knew these boys, he wouldn’t paint them as “hardened arm robbers” only to save a murderer from justice.
“Hopkins is totally wrong on the law. The provocative act does not change the law regarding murder. Murder- homicide – felony - the foundation of the law has not changed. Either it is self defense or murder. There was no provocation,” argued Stuart Hanlon, Defense Counsel.
This weekend, October 26-28, the NAACP National Convention in Los Angeles, California will dedicate its early morning General Session to address the injustice that has been committed against Christian, Rashad and Renato. Alice Huffman, the State President will preside at the convention.
posted by myrna | 1:00 PM
18 Comments:
This is a very informative piece and I thank you. There needs to be an outcry to not only free Renato Hughes and financially compensate him for two years and counting he has sat behind bars, but the real murderer needs to be tried and convicted. And the "DA", is beyond contempt,he should be disbarred and locked up. I have been following this since nearly the beginning after meeting someone at a party in December 2005 who knew Rashad..I had never seen a photo of Christian Foster before. The loss of these two lives and the injustice against the survivor of this brutal act, is beyond comprehension. Your article confirms what I had already determined, these were three innocent young men, murdered in cold blood, as they ran for their lives from a maniac, and the sole survivor, instead of being nurtured and assisted to overcome the trauma of that horrific night, is being tried as a criminal. I was appalled when the change of venue was denied.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ARTICLE.
Please let the families know, people share their grief and outrage.. And I have seen Stuart Hanlon on the news, and am truly grateful he is representing Renato Hughes.
It's sad and unfortunate that two people are dead and a third sits in jail awaiting trial. I've read several different related stories on this person and believe that no matter what their intent was on that morning, the homeowner had every right to do what he did. And the charge of murder for the alleged surviving attacker should stand.
What's even more sad is the fact that we have to listen to others cry racist because these attackers happened to be black. They weren't there to watch a football game or play checkers and drink lemonade! They were there to rob and assault an innocent family. The fact remains that if they wouldn't have committed the robbery, two people wouldn't be dead and a third brutally assaulted! It's about time somebody stood up and defended themselves and their family!
The real victim is the 19 yr. old that suffered brain damage as a direct result of the attackers actions. What does he get out of it? Nothing!
Nice Biased Article. You forgot to mention that Rashad Williams robbed two banks last year. They deserved what they got.
They were shot IN THE BACK. Let's pretend that the DA's premise is factual. If the stepson was under attack, the police are called during the attack and THEY are ARRESTED and tried in a court of LAW. And if lethal force was necessary, it would have only been self-defense had it occurred inside the house to end the attack. Yes, I am sorry that the step-son was injured but there is no evidence Rashad, Renato or Christian committed the attack.
Even if Rashad robbed banks, and I am not saying he did, he had been sentenced and it was not to death! He did not get what he deserved! You are sub-human to say such a thing. Your mama oughta be ashamed of you! They may have went there to buy marijuana from a drug dealer, not an "innocent family" but that is hardly a significant criminal act. Of course this racism! Are you both insane? A white drug dealer murdered a college student, and a good kid, who may have made some bad choices but had a lifetime ahead of him. And the only survivor was an upstanding citizen. A Black homeowner, who killed two white kids, fleeing the house, would certainly be tried for murder by that Imperial Wizard "DA"! I am not sure how the KKK works, are you two the "wizardrettes"? I am outraged and heartbroken by this tragedy and then to read these hurtful posts, with no regards for the families' suffering, is just reprehensible.
I hope your comments are taken down. You are both a couple of backwoods racists, who obviously know nothing about the facts and the facts presented in this blog mean nothing to two evil racists.
"They planted the drug dealer’s wallet and keys in my son’s pants pocket."
How does the mother know the police "planted" Shannon Edmonds' wallet on Mr. Foster's body, and by the way that would be the same police who openly speculated that Edmond's was a drug dealer....?
PS: Rashad Williams had already plead guilty to two robberies, he was due to enter a correctional facility for three within a month when he was killed.
"In February 2005, an unarmed Rashad Williams robbed two banks in Contra Costa County. He would have begun a three-year sentence this month in a Level 1 federal institution."
That said Shannon Edmonds does sound pretty scummy and should be prevented at bare minimum from ever legally owning a gun. I'd like to hear more details when the trial starts to really form an opinion.
November 16, 1:36 PM
jezz: these fine young black men are the victims of the horrible white murderer racist (drug dealer) guy.
they only came over to buy a little pot....
the police are so racist.
i mean.....so what if they smashed in the door at 4am......terrorised the family....bashed some family members to near death with a base ball bat......
it was all the white guys fault.
this country is so racist.!!!!!
these were fine young black men....who didn't do nuthin wrong!!!
In my opinion, the parents of these 3 fine young criminals should be charged with murder. Because it's obvious that they didn't do enough to raise these punks right. And lets be real here for a moment. If the shooter would have been black and the robbers white, my opinion would still be the same. THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVE! The DA should follow through with his charges and also seek the death penalty as well. And the rest of you that are out there screaming racist should shut the hell up and take a look at your own families.
It's a shame Mr. Drug dealer shot these boys in the back. I would have aimed for their heads! I say we give the third negro bail because we all know it will just be a matter of time before he makes another bad choice and then we can send "Dog" the bounty hunter out after him. I heard he loves fine young black negros.
Career criminals get their retirement optioned early.
Tami needs to STFU.
I hope some nice black boys rape your dumbass then you will change your tune you dumb bitch.
Well, there are some major problems with your depiction here. You failed to mention the history of armed robbery for Mr. Hughes. And the other two thugs, the ones who got killed, weren't exactly choirboys either.
You make it sound as if the family, who was victimized is at fault (for the beating of their son resulting in permanent brain damage) for owning a baseball bat.
Drug dealer or not, the D.A got this right. You don't buy weed at somebody’s home when it’s 4 a.m.! At a club…in the streets… maybe, but not at a house (unless there's a party). Anyone with common sense would expect a dealer to say “fuck off, it's only weed, and it's fucking 4 in the morning. Come back tomorrow, dumbshit ! Blow and meth have more agro addicts, but weed, No Way.
Edmonds is a hero, and this is an open and shut case!
Tami: There is no evidence that Rahad, Renato or Christian attacked the stepson? Well, who the fuck did it then, stupid?
The Edmonds' attacked their own kid with a baseball bat?
Furthermore, you don't buy weed at 4 a.m. without pissing dealers off, but they won't shoot you for it. However, breaking & entering their homes while bashing their family members heads in, might spark some retaliation. Get a fucking brain, asshole!
Wow, I don't even know where to begin ripping up this biased nonsene! First of all, you don't buy pot at 4:00 a.m. at somebody's house. Not without losing that connection anyway (and possibly many others because now you'd be considered a kook on the streets). Remember it's just pot, it's not like meth or heroin. Even people with strong marijuana cravings can wait a day or two for it without resorting to robbery or murder.
The writer also failed to mention that one of these thugs has a history of robbing banks. That's two times now, and hell knows how many crimes he's gotten away with. So, a home invasion robbery is certainly not far-fetched.
Why were the two perpetrators shot in the back? It's quite simple really! Two of these men broke into the house of Shannon Edmonds, and were beating up his girlfriend and demanding weed. Her son Dale came to her rescue armed with a baseball bat (and helped save any further assault on him mom), but the two older & much stronger men wrestled it away from him and proceeded to beat him with it, until he nearly died. Edmonds comes up from behind and starts shooting at the cowards who are beating up his stepson with a bat. Then, the scumbags start running and stumbling into the street where they died. End of f-ing story!
Some of you people have alot of nerve and no common since. Since when did a drug house have set hours of operation? Last time I check they stay open for 24 hours. Did anybody stop to think if these boys had guns why didnt they shot back. News Flash If 3 Black Thugs as you call them broke into the house they would have been bold enough to shoot back. And this Shannon Edmonnds guy is not mike brady from the brady brunch. Since he murder those 2 boys he has since try to kill his brother and his live in girlfirend. You talk about Rashad Williams bank crimes this kid was 18 when this took place Look at Shannon he is 33 and a damm killer on the lose. But that cool I guess no one will see him for what he really is until he shoots someone else kid up there that's white.After they said in court he uses kids to clean weed and smoke weed with kids and he is UPSTANDING PERSON. Give me a Break. Why would 2 boys drive 2 1/2 hours to go to this one person house to rob him of some weed. Give me A Break they could have gotton that in the hood of San Francisco. And for the person who had a comment about the kids parents. You must not have kids yourself or do you even know the family personaly.You are one of those shallow people that like to judge people buy what you read in the paper. Have you gone to one court hearing. And if Shannon is such a great person let talk about his crimmnal record. Oh it is a matter of public record that this man has major issue. I guess it would have been alright if he had succeeded in killing his live in girlfriend. Oh by the way she wanted to press charges but your D.A. Hopkins feels it o.k. for men to come home and try to kill there wives long as they drive them to the hospital before they croke. But to all of you that fell those boys got what they had coming how would you feel if it was your child. We will never hear their side of the story. Who said Shannon month was a prayer book. Is there justice in clearlake not when you have a D.A. that covers up for drug dealers. Rashad and Christitian had a right to a trail just like anybody else and if they did what Shannon said they did then jail is what they should have been given. Shannon does not have the right to take a life when only God can give and take it. But I guess that does not apply when Blacks are in it. Guilty until proven innocent.
Nobody is talking about why the case is getting the attention (and it isn't that two black men are dead, nor that there is a white man who was beaten into a cripple. The issue is about whether or not the Provacative Act Doctrine is a valid legal tool. All I hear on this site is ad hominem arguments of some form. Go to www.UncleRaisin.com and lookup this case to get a high level discussion of the issue (and more).
Uncle Raisin
www.UncleRaisin.com
"Raisin" the Standard Against Injustice
GREAT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND SOCIAL COMMENTARY
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND KEEP US INFORMED ON THE REAL NEWS THAT'S IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS!
yes i am the daughter of the man u r calling a "killer" & a "drug dealer." and i hate the fact that everyone is saying if u only knew hughes, foster,& williams. i'm not saying they were bad or anything they might have been good. i don't know them. but why i don't like it is 'cause the reality of the story is if only u knew my dad too, well i do & u can take my word or u can trash it but MY DAD IS NOT A DRUG DEALER NOR A KILLER. AND THAT NIGHT U WEREN'T THERE BUT I HAD TO SIT STRAIGHT ACROSS THE HALL IN MY BED & WATCH SOME PEOPLE TRY TO KILL MY FAMILY.AND AFTER ALMOST 3 YRS. I'M NOT, GOING TO SIT HERE & LISTEN TO PEOPLE CALL MY DAD NAMES. ESPESIALLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHO HE IS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA. TO THE FAMILYS WHO GOT REALLY HURT OVER THIS I'M SORRY DEEPLY SORRY. BUT I FEEL THAT IF THESE MEN WERE HOME SLEEPING WITH THEIR FAMILY LIKE WE WERE THEY WOULD STILL BE ON THIS EARTH.
If Ms. Edmond's could learn some grammar and spelling, then we all could read and respond to her comments without hurting our eyes... but nobody's surprised at her ineptitude, now are they?
The comment posted by "Mr. Edmonds Daughter" made a really good point: "if these men were home sleeping with their family like we were, they would still be on this earth." Regardless of race - white, black, brown - if they were at home sleeping, this tragedy could have been prevented. I'm not saying that these kids got what they deserved...my message is simple - negative choices will result in negative results.
Post a Comment
<< Home