By Emily D. Williams
Preliminary hearings for two separate Labor Day shootings were held Wednesday during Batesville Municipal Court with Judge William McKenzie presiding.

 Andricus L. Draper, 210 Arizona St., Batesville, was represented by Attorney David Walker for the murder of Corey Henderson.

Draper also has armed robbery and malicious mischief charges from December.
Draper was out on bond when charged with murder.

 District Attorney Jay Hale called Detective Paul Shivers to the stand.

Shivers testified a call was made to the police department about a murder between the hours of 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on September 1.

Darrius Johnson was also brazed in the back.

Shivers testified there was a verbal altercation between Henderson and Draper at the Corner Store gas station.

Henderson sent a text message to his sister stating “Dreke” (Draper) was going to kill him, Shivers testified.

Johnson identified Draper as the one who shot Henderson.
Walker questioned where Henderson was shot.

“He had two shots to the chest,” the detective replied.

According to statements, Johnson said Draper was shooting at him when Johnson shot back but his gun jammed.

“Did he (Draper) ever say he was acting in self defense?” Walker asked.

“No,” the detective replied.

District Attorney Hale said Circuit Court has a petition out for no bond for Draper.

“Normally I would ask for a bond, but the DA has a hold for other cases, so there is no point in asking for a bond,” Walker said.

Second shooting case
While authorities were on the murder scene at Patterson Street for the first Labor Day shooting, they received a call about a second shooting at West Ridge Apartments.

Derrick L. Morning, 1229 Heafner Rd., Batesville, who is also represented by Attorney David Walker, was out on probation when charged with aggravated assault and armed robbery.
Statements were given stating Derrick L. Morning and Devonta Pride stole $300 by use of gun by shooting Dustin Armstrong in the leg.

Shivers testified witnesses outside of the apartments also identified Morning and Pride as the two going into the apartment.

“Morning said he was with Pride but did not shoot,” Attorney Walker stated.

“The victim said Morning stopped Pride from killing him,” Shivers replied.

MDOC has a hold on Morning.

Pride is being represented by Attorney Helen Kelly and his preliminary hearing will be held Oct. 22.

Keatric Scott, 311 Armstrong, Batesville, had a trespassing charge remanded to the files.

Aquino Giles, 206 Arizona, Batesville, was fined $1,676 for disorderly conduct-failure to comply, reckless driving, suspended driver’s license and no proof of insurance. 

Brittany R. Defel, 104 Clinton, Batesville, entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence-simple assault.

“I was defending myself,” Defel told the judge.

A trial was set for October 15.

Sedric Webb, 204 Van Voris, Batesville, had a domestic violence-simple assault charge dismissed after the affiant, Arlisa Petty failed to appear to prosecute.

Danielle F. Deaton, 357 Pressgrove Rd., Cascilla, failed to appear to answer a shoplifting charge. Fox Bonding was notified.

Otisha Harden, 821 S Hwy. 51, Batesville, entered a guilty plea to shoplifting a human hair weave worth $10.47 from Walmart on September 20.

“It was a mistake I shouldn’t have made,” Harden said.

“Your fine is $1,146. That’s a lot of money for $10 hair,” judge McKenzie said.

During a case set for trial Rosemary Jackson, 201 Harmonia Rd., Como, was found guilty of disorderly conduct-failure to comply and public drunk.

“I was the passenger. I didn’t think I had to get out of the car or I wouldn’t of had gotten public drunk,” Jackson said before actual testimony began.

McKenzie swore Officer Ruby Myers and Jackson under oath and let the officer testify first.
Lt. Myers testified she was monitoring traffic on Labor Day about 7:30 p.m. when she saw a white Nissan Altima with the passenger door open.

Myers said the vehicle pulled over on a street in empty lot.

“They just sat there so I went over there to check on them. The passenger door was still open,” Myers testified.

Myers said when she spoke to the driver (Jackson’s husband), he said, “My wife is drunk.”
“He said his wife was mad because he wouldn’t stop to get her beer,” the officer testified.

“She got out and started walking towards us. I did not get her out of the car,” said Myers.

Lt. Myers testified she noticed something all over Jackson’s shirt and asked her to stay by her car several times.

“He hit me so I opened door. He poured whiskey all over me. I don’t remember her telling me to get back,” Jackson said.

“He should have been charged,” she added.

Judge McKenzie ruled the charges were correct.

As the judge told Jackson her fines were $532, she said, “I don’t work.”
“Why?” the judge asked.

“I homeschool,” she replied.

“Does drinking help with lessons?” the judge asked.

“It does after,” she replied.

The judge told her to have her fines paid in full within 30 days and to “leave the whiskey alone.”