High School Football Star Exonerated After Kidnap-Rape Accuser Recants

Wow.

The kidnap-rape conviction of a once-promising prep football star was dismissed Thursday following a recantation by his accuser. Brian Banks collapsed in sobs on the counsel table during a court hearing where a prosecutor quickly conceded the decade-old case and moved for the dismissal. In the summer of 2002, Banks’ future looked bright: He was a 17-year-old high school football star being heavily recruited by a number of colleges. But in a single day that changed with the accusations of kidnapping and rape by a female student.

He maintained there was no rape and their sexual contact was consensual, but his lawyer urged him to plead no contest rather than risk a sentence of 41 years to life in prison if convicted. He followed the advice and went to prison for six years, shattering his dreams of gridiron glory. Lawyers for the California Innocence Project were prepared Thursday to argue he should be exonerated. In a strange turn of events, the woman who accused him a decade ago friended him on Facebook when he got out of prison. Wanetta Gibson explained she wanted to “let bygones be bygones.”

According to documents in the case, she met with Banks and said she had lied; there had been was no kidnap and no rape and she offered to help him clear his record.
But she subsequently refused to repeat the story to prosecutors because she feared she would have to return a $1.5 million payment from a civil suit brought by her mother against Long Beach schools. She was quoted as telling Banks: “I will go through with helping you but it’s like at the same time all that money they gave us, I mean gave me, I don’t want to have to pay it back.”

Justin Brooks, a lawyer who heads the innocence project, said that Banks has remained on probation, under electronic monitoring, has had to register as a sex offender and has had trouble getting a job. He said Banks continues to train for what he hopes will be a future chance at a football career.

Man, that chick truly ain’t isht! We hope the best for Brian and his future. SMH.

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Looks like Facebook is tryin’ to do the right thing

Yesterday we reported on the sad story of Heather Walker and her family, after she was banned for posting pictures of her son born with a severe birth defect on Facebook. Well it looks like Facebook decided that the negative publicity wasn’t worth the hassle and has issued an apology to the family:

“Upon investigation, we concluded the photo does not violate our guidelines and was removed in error,” Facebook officials said in a statement to RadarOnline.com.

“Facebook is a place where almost a billion people share more than 300 million photos a day. Our dedicated User Operations Team reviews millions of pieces of this content a day to help keep Facebook safe for all ages. Our policies are enforced by a team of reviewers in several offices across the globe. This team looks at hundreds of thousands of reports every week, and as you might expect, occasionally, we make a mistake and remove a piece of content we shouldn’t have.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.”

Heather Walker continues writing an emotional blog about her “sweet boy.”

It’s unknown in Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who married his physician girlfriend Priscilla Chan last night, was aware of the controversy.

Although, many have stressed that this was a private matter, the family felt the need to post the beautiful photos of their child, which was very much their own right. Do you think Facebook should have issued the apology or did the pictures deserve to be banned?

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3 Charged In Carjacking Of Pastor Marvin Winans

Three young men were arraigned Sunday in the assault and carjacking of popular Detroit pastor and gospel singing icon Marvin Winans. The office of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy identified the suspects as Detroit residents Montoya Givens and Christopher Moorehead, both 20, and Brian K. Young, 18, of Macomb County’s Clinton Township. They are charged with carjacking, unarmed robbery and conspiracy, said Maria Miller, Worthy’s spokeswoman.

The charges carry up to life in prison. The men appeared in Detroit’s 36th District Court and were ordered held on $200,000 bonds. Their preliminary examinations, in which a judge decides where there’s enough evidence for the case to go to trial, are June 1. A prosecutor’s spokeswoman said Sunday she didn’t think the defendants had lawyers yet.

Winans, 54, was attacked Wednesday afternoon while pumping gas in Detroit. The robbers took his sport utility vehicle, Rolex watch, cash and credit cards. Worthy said she was pleased with the closing of the case but added a dig at the effectiveness of Detroit police. She said she was “buoyed by the fact that this case was well investigated by the police and that we were able to charge this case quickly. However, with the proper resources this could be done in all cases.”

Check out what Pastor Winans had to say about his unfortunate situation:

Four days after he was robbed and carjacked outside a Detroit gas station, the Rev. Marvin Winans stepped to his pulpit amid cheers and applause. The 54-year-old pastor and renowned gospel musician told the crowd that packed Perfecting Church on Sunday that he was never afraid during the assault.

Nor is he bitter. Rather, he said, “I’m sad.” Sad, he said, because young men have lost their direction, and instead prey on their community.

Speaking to reporters before the church service — an injured finger still bandaged on his left hand — Winans said he would reach out to his assailants, who later that day were to be charged in court. And he called on the city’s young men, fathers, business owners and others to take personal responsibility. Young men need to see their self-worth and their role in the larger community, he said.

“The city is fixable, and it starts with the men of the city, in particular the black men,” he told reporters. “And I … want to urge all of you men who hear me to go and get your sons. I’m not bitter. I’m not upset. I’m saddened by what has taken place. But I’m also inspired. We have to make a change in this city.”

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Life Expectancy Increasing For African Americans

Via NewsOne:

While the gap between life expectancy rates for African Americans and Whites still exists, it has narrowed over the last two decades, according to “Health, United States, 2011,” a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report released on Wednesday.

Between 2000 and 2009, life expectancy at birth increased more for African Americans than for Whites, narrowing the life expectancy gap between these two racial groups, the report shows. In 2000, life expectancy at birth for Whites was 5.5 years longer than for the Blacks. By 2009, though, the difference narrowed to 4.3 years.
Hispanics still have higher life expectancies than both ethnic groups.

Nice!

Kanye West Downtown LA Serving The Homeless 2010

In 2010, Kanye West was asked to come down to skid row to serve meals and help out. The brother obliged with no problem and came down to serve. It was asked, why he did the charity and why he was there. Some of our staff thinks Kanye West is the best MC in the world right now…and this goes to strengthen that belief.

Turn the page to peep.

Homeless Street Performer On America’s Got Talent [Video]

Quit yer’ belly-aching and do something with your life like this kid!

Homeless Atlanta Teenager Graduates High School

Frederick Dukes may be a teenager, but he is wise beyond his years.

“A lot of people talk about doing things, but you can’t talk about it. You can’t think about it. You can only just go and do it,” said Dukes, a senior at Washington Senior Academy.

For the last two years Dukes has been homeless and often hungry.

“I’m still a high school student. Even though I am dealing with the hardships of adults, I am still a young man and teenager at the moment in time,” Dukes said.

When Duke’s stepmom moved back to North Carolina, he decided to stay in Atlanta.

He said that meant living the life of a nomad.

Friends and later faculty have helped, but it hasn’t always been enough.

“My lowest moment over the last two years was this Christmas break when it was cold and I didn’t have anywhere to stay,” said Dukes.

Despite all the hardships, Dukes will graduate from one of the top schools in the state.

“I knew if I didn’t stay on myself, nobody would. If I didn’t care, nobody else would care. If I didn’t help myself, nobody else would help me,” said Dukes.

“It’s pretty amazing when students go back and reflect and pretty much talk about who inspires them, but students like Frederick Dukes inspire me,” said Tiauna Crooms, the principal of Washington Senior Academy.

“Your environment is not what makes you. Who you are is what you do and the decisions you make is what makes you who you are,” Dukes said.

*Wipes away tears* Sweet baby Jesus…

Image via CBS Atlanta

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Sweet Black love!

Michael Vick And Fiancee To Wed In Miami In June

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will tie the knot with longtime fiancée Kijafa Frink at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on June 30. We hear the blessed bash will be for 300 people, and invitations started landing in mailboxes this month. Sources say the couple’s guest list includes Vick mentor and former Colts and Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy, Eagles coach Andy Reid, Vick’s NFL superagent Joel Segal, Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and other teammates. Fashion-loving Frink co-owns accessories line and boutique PNK Elephant. Heat star Chris Bosh was also married at the Fontainebleau; last July he wed Adrienne Williams in front of 300 guests including LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Sounds like this will be quite a soireé. Hey guys, where’s our invite?!?!

Image via Philly.com

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Bobbi Kris can sing??

On May 20th at The Billboard Awards, we’ll find out. Bobbi Kristina’s hopes to become a singer will come true when she hits the stage at the award show. Bobbi has been tapped to participate in a musical tribute to her late mother, Whitney Houston:

R&B divas Brandy, Monica and Gladys Knight will present with Chris Brown, Usher and Justin Bieber giving special performances. Though details are sparse as to what Kristina’s role will be, it’s sure to be an emotional one.

The announcement of her contribution to the event also comes with the news that Houston’s family, including her mother, daughter, brother and sister-in-law will also be the stars of a new reality TV series entitled The Houston Family Chronicles. The show will document the grieving family across 10 one-hour episodes on the Lifetime network to air later this year.

Meanwhile, the newly engaged Bobby Brown told Billboard Friday that he has not heard of the show. “I haven’t heard about that and I definitely question it,” he said. “But I know my daughter will make the right decisions in her life. She was brought up right.” Brown, who starred in the 2005 series Being Bobby Brown is also working on his own reality show.

“The Houston Family Chronicles was already in the works at the time of Whitney’s death. [Her] unexpected passing … certainly affects the direction of the show,” Pat, the wife of Whitney’s brother Gary said. “However it is my hope that others will be enlightened as they watch our family heal and move forward.”

While we applaud Bobbi’s courage to be able participate in this tribute, we wonder how her ummm… singing ability will stand up next to the likes of Gladys Knight and Monica. Will she be able to stand the pressure of not necessarily sounding like her mother but at least meeting her standard of vocal greatness? Jesus be an auto-tune.

Will you be tuning into The Billboard Awards?

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