Technician
thursday march
1
2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
University alum on trial for murder Jason Young, University graduate, is currently undergoing a retrial for the murder of his wife. Anna Riley Staff Writer
The defense team for an N.C. State alum on trial for the 2006 murder of his wife rested its case Wednesday after three days of testimony. Jason Young, the 37-year-old N.C. State graduate who is accused of firstdegree murder, is in the final stages of his current retrial. Young’s first trial in June 2011 was declared a mistrial by a Superior Court judge after jurors were deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous decision. On Nov. 3, 2006, 29-year-old Michelle Young—also a graduate of N.C. State—was found beaten to death in her Raleigh home. She was five months pregnant. Young’s twoyear-old daughter Cassidy was found unharmed by her side that morning. For three years local investigators worked on the case—following leads,
collecting evidence and developing theories about what happened the night Young was murdered. Jason Young became the primary suspect in his wife’s murder after detectives and investigators from the City County Bureau of Investigation (CCBI) began connecting pieces of evidence and finding gaps in his original story. According to archived WRAL coverage of the case, investigators began filing various search warrants for Young’s email accounts and phone records—among other things—after he refused to answer investigators’ questions or cooperate with the investigation. Young was officially charged with first-degree murder in Dec. 2009. This time around, prosecutors introduced new evidence, testimony and witnesses in the state’s case against Young, according to WRAL’s crime reporter Amanda Lamb. On Feb. 6, the prosecution began the first day of its 15-day testimony against Young. Witnesses for the prosecution included Meredith Fisher—
Michelle Young’s sister, convenience store worker Gracie Calhoun and women who had been involved in extramarital affairs with Young. According to news reports, the prosecution painted a picture of an unhappy marriage between Jason and Michelle that was plagued by volatile fights and infidelity. The state’s case rests on circumstantial evidence that claims Jason Young drove to Hillsville, Va., on the night of Nov. 3, checked into his hotel, then subsequently drove back to Raleigh in the middle of the night to murder his wife. The evidence presented by the prosecution against Young’s alibi included testimony from hotel employees who said a back door of the hotel had been propped open by a rock and a security camera had been unplugged. Lamb said the two biggest additions to the state’s case against Jason Young are Cassidy Young’s daycare worker, who testified for the prosecution, and the use of Young’s testimony in his first trial. In a calculated move, Lamb said, the
prosecution used Young’s past testimony on the stand in an attempt to highlight discrepancies and poke holes in his original story. Additionally, Young’s retrial allowed prosecutors to use Raleigh daycare worker Ashley Palmatier as a witness for the state’s case. “[Palmatier] testified that she witnessed Cassidy acting out an attack with dolls in her hand. One of the dolls was [meant to be] her mother,” Lamb said. Court reports state Palmatier testified, “[Cassidy]was hitting the mommy doll with the other doll and the (dollhouse) chair. She began to say that mommy’s getting a spanking for biting, and she also said that mommy has boo-boos all over.” Lamb said the prosecution has focused much more on details during the retrial, including Palmatier’s testimony. While the prosecution weighed heavily on circumstantial evidence, Lamb said there was little physical evidence. “They have not found any definitive
DNA evidence that links Jason Young to the crime scene,” Lamb said. Lamb said in a case like this, the state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant is guilty. Alternately, the defense has to prove nothing. The next step in the trial process will be the state’s rebuttal witnesses, Lamb said. After that, each side will have the opportunity to present closing arguments before the jury is released to decide on a verdict. If convicted, Jason Young will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. Michelle Young was a 1999 N.C. State graduate. Young was a cheerleader her freshman year and then spent her remaining three years dedicated to her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. According to past WRAL reports, Young’s friends and family remembered her as a “dedicated Wolfpack fan, devoted mother and loving wife.”
Panel investigates local media diversity The Nubian Message brought in experts to explore diversity in the local media.
katherine hoke/Technician
Market restaurant breaks down the barrier between chef and customer by placing the kitchen in plain view.
Customers taste Raleigh at Market Restaurant
Chef McIntyre seeks out local ingredients to create his dishes. Frances Ellis Staff Writer
Dining out certainly has its perks: an opportunity to try new, delicious foods, no cooking or cleaning and often an enjoyable atmosphere. There is one question many diners cannot answer: Do you know where the food on your plate came from? At Market Restaurant in downtown Raleigh, patrons can enthusiastically answer that question with a hearty “yes.” Here, a farm-to-table model is used, resulting in fresh ingredients and a steady boost to the local economy. “The original concept was a little bit different,” Chad McIntyre, the owner and chef of Market Restaurant, said. “But the closer we got to opening, it started to evolve and I started talking to farmers and it just seemed like the right direction to go. It also really just fit with the space and was spot on with the theme of the restaurant.” McIntyre deals directly with many farmers and often plans his menu around what ingredients will be available. “Sometimes we’ll come up with a dish or an idea for a dish and then we’ll see who is growing what, but I
don’t go to the farmers and tell them what dish we’re making and what ingredients we need,” McIntyre said. “Instead, I’ll go the farmers and ask what they’re growing this season or what’s available now or what’s going to be coming up soon. Then we plan dishes around that. It’s easier for me to do my menu and for the farmers if we work with the ingredients that are available.” “The farm-to-table aspect is a huge deal when planning the menu,” Scott Jankovictz, the sous chef of Market Restaurant, said. “You have to take into consideration what’s in season. You’re not getting watermelon in winter. It makes it a little more challenging at times.” Market Restaurant has been open since May 4, 2010, and McIntyre has become familiar with many farmers and their crops. “There are some farmers who we deal with regularly,” McIntyre said. “And they have a few crops each year that I’ve really fallen in love with, like Liberty apples from Sand Hill Farms. They only have a dozen trees that they get the fruit off of so they’ll let me know a few weeks ahead that they’re going to start picking so I know when to go and stock up. We’ll can apple juice and make apple butter and more stuff.” McIntyre sees the farm-to-table
concept as a local cycle. “I can see the farm and how they’re raising their ingredients,” McIntyre said. “The money stays local. I deal with May Farms or Ben Shields. These farms will tell people that their ingredients are used directly and locally in dishes at Market. Those people will then come to try out the restaurant.” Beyond local farms, McIntyre also gets many ingredients from the farmer’s market. However, when it comes to honey, there are actually five beehives on the restaurant’s roof. Market is the only restaurant in North Carolina to have this. The honey will be harvested in house and used at the restaurant, as well as the neighboring Escazu Chocolate. “This is more roof-to-table,” McIntyre said. “You can’t get any more local than that.” Many dishes, sides and sauces are made in house as well. The ketchup and aiolis are freshly made, the fries are hand cut and the beef is ground in house. On one hand, diners can enjoy pure comfort foods like a hamburger and french fries, but more adventurous eaters or those looking for a culinary experience can have vegan
market continued page 3
Ley), and Karen Waters, editor and creator of The Triangle. “The inspiration for creating the event was weekly meetings I had with Patrick Neal. He was interested in bringing in a more diverse set of media Shawn Thompson professionals to talk to students about Staff Writer different aspects of the media. From Diversity in media was the focus of there I thought of the idea of the panel the discussion panel held Wednesday discussion as a way for Student Media evening; Nubian Message, in conjunc- to tackle a topic that has been a big issue at N.C. State,” tion with the rest of CJ Guion, editor in Student Media, crechief of the Nubian ated the free event Message, said. to bring awareness Each of the panand education about elists addressed the diversity existing in topic of diversity in different types of media. Afterwards, media outlets. the floor was opened The event featured for questions from pa nel ist s Gera ld the audience. DreOwens, anchor from WRAL , Kelvin Jer- John Drescher, executive editor scher began with of the News and Observor acknowledging The vay, publisher of The Carolinian, a TriCarolinian, Pam a ng le newspaper Spau ld i ng , blog mistress of Pam’s House Blend, John that has given a voice to the African Drescher, executive editor of the News American population for 73 years. & Observer, Jon Bloom, vice president and general manager of 96.9 FM (La media continued page 3
“The Carolinian is a piece of history we ought to respect and honor.”
insidetechnician A break we will take
Two more days! Two more days until you are out of this God forsaken malaise. As you study for tests and put your papers to rest, take a break to feed and give us a read. See page 5.
Permanent art collection sets Gregg Museum apart
The collection at Gregg Museum make it one of the most well-stocked college museums in the country. See page 6.
‘Golden Abyss’ is a gaming treasure
The first portable game in the ‘Uncharted’ series proves entertaining throughout. See page 6.
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February 29 - 3pm to 8pm - Harrelson Hall 29% off all jackets, windbreakers, vests and hats + an extra 50% off already reduced clearance items!
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