Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Thomaston stabbing goes to grand juryBy LEE WILLIAMS An Upson County grand jury will determine whether three men involved in a bloody brawl that left a Thomaston banker dead and another man seriously wounded in July 2004 will face prosecution. Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard said he plans to take the case involving the stabbing death of Rob Bennett, a banker for United Bank, and the assault of Russ Stewart to the grand jury March 21. Bennett, 35, allegedly was killed on July 25 in front of his new bride, Sarah. I just think the collective wisdom of the grand jurors is greater than mine and I want to give them a chance to decide, Ballard said Monday. Ballard confirmed he will present bill of indictments against David Colwell, Russ Stewart and Brian Huff in the death of Bennett. Ballard will present a bill of indictment against Colwell for one count of voluntary manslaughter in connection with Bennetts death and one count of aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing Stewart. Colwell, an operating room nurse, allegedly stabbed the two men after a Kevn Kinney concert at Qs Billiards in downtown Thomaston with a Gerber knife. Rob and Sarah Bennett, Stewart and Zack Purvis, were among five people in an approaching Mercedes Benz. Brian Huff, a previous sparring partner and ex-husband of Colwells girlfriend, Kristen Caldwell, the daughter of Superior Court Judge Johnnie Caldwell Jr., was behind the wheel of the car. Huff allegedly spotted Colwell and pulled over. Words were exchanged and an altercation ensued between Stewart, Bennett and Colwell, authorities said. All three were cut during the fight. Kristen Caldwell reportedly was not involved or present during the altercation. Ballard also will present a bill of indictment against Stewart for one count of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Bennett. Ballard said Stewart was charged in Bennetts death because he was involved in a fight that led to Bennetts death. Involuntary manslaughter is where you commit a misdemeanor offense and without meaning to, somebody ends up getting killed, Ballard explained. The district attorney also will present a bill of indictment against Huff for one count of involuntary manslaughter and DUI. Huff, who shares two children with Kristen, was once allegedly assaulted by Colwell one Halloween night. Colwell allegedly knocked on the door, socked Huff in the face and walked off. The case has since been adjudicated. Huff allegedly was intoxicated and had an open container of beer in the vehicle when police arrived to investigate the fatal stabbing. Ballard indicated his role is not to dictate whether the grand jury should accept the indictments. The bill of indictments are simply a starting point to fuel the discussion. The grand jury will have a chance to change any of that, Ballard said. But before they can even consider it, you have to give them something to consider. |
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