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Thursday, August 09, 2007

Judge certifies murder charge

De'shae Antonio Webb, 18, is the second teen charged in the death of Kevin Henderson, 41.

April Rawlins broke down in tears as she once again took the witness stand in a Roanoke courtroom and described the beating that killed her friend, Kevin Henderson.

Five teenagers surrounded Henderson as he lay in a fetal position on the ground, "just kicking him, just kicking him," Rawlins said, tearfully repeating the phrase as Henderson's family members and friends wept.

Rawlins pointed to 18-year-old De'shae Antonio Webb, the second teenager to be charged in Henderson's death, and said she recognized him as one of the attackers.

After hearing evidence Wednesday morning, Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge John Ferguson ruled there was probable cause to certify the murder charge against Webb to a grand jury.

Another teenager, 16-year-old Sean Denzel Guerrant, was convicted of second-degree murder in June for participating in the Nov. 3 beating that fatally injured Henderson. Guerrant gave an interview to police in which he said the group attacked Henderson after Webb confronted him over a $5 debt. Guerrant denied taking part in the beating.

During Guerrant's trial, Webb and three other teenagers were named as suspects in open court. Webb was arrested after Guerrant was found guilty.

According to evidence, five teenagers surrounded Henderson as he was doing maintenance work at a house on Rorer Avenue Southwest. They kicked and stomped him while he was on the ground, then fled when Rawlins came out of her house and yelled at them.

Rawlins called 911 but Henderson, 41, refused to speak with police or be taken to the hospital.

He walked to the home of his girlfriend, Dorethea Mack, then briefly returned to work digging a trench but became too sick to complete the task.

He went back to Mack's house. He told her he had been beaten up but kept refusing to let her call an ambulance. She called 911 after he lost consciousness.

He died Nov. 4 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital from bleeding caused by a blow to the head.

At Wednesday's preliminary hearing, Roanoke police Detective D.A. Jones testified that he interviewed Webb twice about the beating. Webb admitted that he had words with Henderson about the $5 debt -- Henderson had asked for the money to buy beer -- but he denied taking part in the attack.

Webb's attorney, David Steidle, tried to determine through questioning how clear a view Rawlins had of Henderson's attackers.

Guerrant was charged first in the killing because he was the only suspect Rawlins recognized when she saw the beating. Rawlins did not know who the others were, she has testified.

Rawlins testified that she saw Webb kicking Henderson in the head.

Webb remained free on bond after Wednesday's hearing.

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