newsobserver.com projects - Black Caucus protests Johnson prosecution - Comments

Re: Black Caucus protests Johnson prosecution

Sport22 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:38:46 -0500

It's not that fact of his color, yes he happens to be black thats why its a BLACK caucus. And I am utterly descusted on that fact that you say O.K well lets just give him life in prison. Are you kidding me. This guy should have his life taken the same way he took Brittany's life. Thats final.

Re: Black Caucus protests Johnson prosecution

AmericaIsWatching — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:32:25 -0400

While it is good that the resolution is endorsed by the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, it should be endorsed by the WHOLE North Carolina Legislature, not only the Black Caucus. Please visit this website and use the links provided to contact various members of the NC State Legislature and see if they will back a resolution also. This is an issue that all people should care about resolving...not only people who are black. It's not a "black" or "white" issue, it's a right or wrong issue! Johnson should not be punished for doing the RIGHT THING and turning in the murderer of Brittany Willis. The murderer should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, which he is...life imprisonment. And Johnson helped make that punishment of the murderer happen.

Black Caucus protests Johnson prosecution

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:10:14 -0400

The North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus is protesting the continued prosecution of James Johnson.

Johnson, 22, was jailed for three years for the 2004 murder of Brittany Willis, who was 17. He was freed in December pending a review of his case, and the murder, rape and kidnapping charges against him were later dropped because of a lack of evidence.

Johnson was then charged with accessory after the fact to murder, Titan Barksdale reports.

The Black Caucus demands in its resolution that "the last-minute (accessory) charge against Mr. Johnson be dismissed so he can get on with his life." The resolution was released by the NAACP today.

The accessory charge against Johnson is based on his statement that he wiped off his own fingerprints from Willis' SUV. After killing Willis, Kenneth Meeks, Johnson's former classmate, drove her SUV to Johnson's house to pick him up.

Johnson says that wiped off his fingerprints under duress because Meeks showed him the murder weapon and told him to help clean the SUV.

The Administrative Office of the Court hasn't published a date for Johnson's next court appearance.