CINCY POST

Accused boys banned from funeral

By Jennifer Edwards, Post staff reporter

Two boys accused of beating and stomping an 8-year-old relative to death last week won't be allowed to attend her funeral today.

Hamilton County Juvenile Judge Sylvia Hendon denied requests Tuesday from the mothers of the boys, ages 11 and 13, to release them from the juvenile detention center for today's 11:30 a.m. service at Olivet Bapti st Church in Silverton.

''That's not right,'' said Charmaine Evans, 39, of South Fairmount, mother of the 13-year-o ld, who was Takeya Bryant's cousin.

''That's their cousin and sister. This is getting worse. They're making it seem like they were some real murderers for real, some real criminals, and that's not true. I am going to get my child out of jail.''

Hendon declined to comment Tuesday on her ruling. But Terry Weber, a county public defender r epresenting the boys, said the judge based her decision on the seriousness of the charges.

The fifth and seventh graders are charged with murder. The 13-year-old - who was baby-sitting Takeya, her 11-year-old brother and two other siblings - also is charged with three counts of rape, accused of assaultin g the girl with a broom handle.

''It certainly would have been nice to allow them - even chaperoned by juvenile security - at least to attend a portion of the service and see their cousin and sister, respectfully, a final time,'' Weber said .

The boys appear Friday before Hendon, when their psychiatric evaluations will be released and she will decide if they are competent to stand trial. Because they are so young, the boys can be tried only as juveniles , and, if convicted, can be detained only until they turn 21.

After her funeral today, Takeya - dubbed ''Little Skinny'' by relatives - will be buried at t he Vine Street Hill Cemetery in St. Bernard.

Charmaine Evans and her sister, African, who is Takeya's mother and mother of the 11-year-o ld boy charged in his sister's slaying, told The Post last week the girl's death was an accident caused by ordinar y child's play, not intentional violence.

''These kids are good children,'' said African Evans, 29, of Northside. ''In seven minutes pl aying, accidents will happen. They loved Takeya. I know they wouldn't never do this intentionally. They were just pl aying and fighting like kids do.''

In a final phone call to her mother, Takeya complained the boys were getting too rough.

African Evans, who was at work as a cook at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Avondale, said she told her daughter to stop playing and fighting with the boys, go into another room and watch TV.

No more than 10 minutes later, she received another phone call - this time from the 13-year-o ld, who said the girl had stopped breathing. Publication date: 08-22-01

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2001

Answers

Good Lord, when does stomping a child to death and assaulting her with a broomhandle become "unintentional" and just playing. They are certainly old enough to know better ...

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2001