EE FR
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2003
Volume 2, Issue 188
Santa Monica Daily Press A newspaper with issues
FANTASY 5 8, 39, 29, 30, 22 DAILY 3 Afternoon picks: 6, 5, 8 Evening picks: 9, 0, 1
DAILY DERBY 1st Place: 10, Solid Gold 2nd Place: 09, Winning Spirit 3rd Place: 11, Money Bags
Race Time: 1:43:57
NEWS OF THE WEIRD by Chuck Shepard
Recent alarming headline: ■ “From Hyenas’ Privates, a Potential Public Good” (a May Contra Costa Times report on how both male and female hormones flow through hyenas’ genitals, in part shaping them, which scientists say offers clues in how to treat potentially hermaphroditic humans). ■ “Psychologists Dissect the Multiple Meanings of Meow” (a May Cox News Service report on how cats may display many alterations of their standard vocalization depending on why at that time they want humans’ attention). ■ “15 Injured in Kite Contests” (a report from Britain”s Independent TV on competitions featuring contentious Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat, India, in which aggressive participants use twine coated with powdered glass).
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Murder trial of local mechanic to wrap up BY JOHN WOOD Daily Press Staff Writer
Closing arguments will be made today in the murder trial of a Pico Boulevard mechanic who is accused of shooting and killing a transient last July. Jurors will soon decide if Michael Ward Bell, 54, of Los Angeles, is guilty of first degree murder for firing six shots at Andre Watson, a homeless man with a history of mental illness. Bell, who managed BT Automotive on the 2600 block of Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, testified Wednesday that he was acting in selfdefense after being attacked by Watson with a box cutter. Watson was extremely intoxicated on the day he died and had recently been released from jail after serving half of a 15-day sentence for attacking two teenage girls with a box cutter on Santa Monica Beach, witnesses testified.
See TRIAL, page 4
BY JOHN WOOD Daily Press Staff Writer
John Wood/Daily Press
More than 700 Vikings joined the alumni ranks Thursday during Santa Monica High School’s 149th graduation ceremony. “Four years have been like the blink of an eye,” said Jose Lopez, a teacher at Samohi, who kicked off the ceremony by reminding students of the importance of passion. “For true happiness, you must listen to your heart,” he said. “To love is to live.” A handful of class leaders read poems and sang songs at Samohi’s Memorial Greek Theater for the class of 2003, whose students wore robes of gold and blue. Rochelle Amber Boyd dedicated her poem, “If We Only Had Love,” not just to all 3,500plus people present, but “to the whole world.” “If we only have love, we can bury all the knives, not push, not shove, but live peaceful lives,” said Boyd, whose poem was met with a roaring standing ovation. Christine Yi, the senior class president, sang a song originally performed by R&B group Boyz 2 Men entitled “Hard To Say Goodbye.” Before she could finish, Yi, who was overcome by tears, was met with booming applause. But it wasn’t only students on the stage Thursday. Administrators also took the opportunity to pass last-minute pearls of wisdom to the
A senior at Santa Monica High School can’t hold back a smile at Thursday’s celebration.
See GRADUATION, page 4
– Malcolm Forbes
INDEX Horoscopes Mix work,pleasure,Libra . . . . . .2
Local Santa Monica surf report . . . . . . .3
Opinion Board doesn’t help renters . . . . .6
State Immigrants face tough times . . .9
National Alligator kills boy . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Classifieds Only $3.50 a day . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Clinton,Giuliani make up . . . . . .12
anti-psychotic drugs Remsing prescribed sometime before his fatal encounter with Bell on July 1, 2002 because the coroner determined there were no traces of the medication in his body, witnesses testified. More than 30 expert and eyewitnesses were called in the trial, which enters its seventh day today. John Raphling, Bell’s public defender, called about 20 of the witnesses. Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Mark Burnley called 12. Because Bell has admitted he shot Watson, Burnley said his challenge was to prove that Bell was not acting in self defense. He claimed that Bell acted deliberately and passed up numerous opportunities to protect himself without injuring Watson. “He walked out of the shop when he could have locked himself in,” Burnley said. “He
Samohi seniors celebrate Lawmakers graduation with poems, songs expected to At ceremony, students urged to ask cities for heed passions and hug parents tax increases
“When in doubt, duck.”
People in news
Santa Monica Police Officer D. Legerski testified Thursday that Watson was barred from returning to the beach after leaving two 17year-old girls shaken but unhurt after he threatened them. Dr. Gordon Plotkin said Watson’s corpse had a blood alcohol content of .13 percent, though that level was measured after a full blood transfusion that diluted the level of alcohol. Although the exact level of alcohol in his blood can’t be determined, Plotkin said it was probably two or three times higher than .08, the legal limit to drive. Dave Hobek, the owner of a Phoenix hotel for transients, testified that Watson was a calm man most of the time but sometimes erupted into violent behavior. Dr. Lisa Remsing, who diagnosed Watson at County-USC Hospital before the fatal incident, said Watson was paranoid and his mind was filled with “assaultive” ideas. Watson had apparently stopped taking the
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L O T T O
By The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO — As work on the California budget crisis came to a standstill Wednesday, Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson said Democratic lawmakers will leave the Capitol early next week to venture ``to all corners of the state'' urging support for tax increases. Saying the people of California need to known the “truth” about the state's $38.2 billion budget deficit, Wesson said Assembly Democrats will carry his message that the state must cut spending and raise taxes to fix its financial problems. Lawmakers will be expected to visit their own districts as well as Republican strongholds to lobby city councils, boards of supervisors, public safety officers and other community leaders. The tour will run three days beginning Monday night. Legislators would be expected back Thursday, June 26, when Wesson said he will ask the Assembly to vote on a budget plan that will include some mix of cuts and savings as well as tax increases. “We are going to go out to see if we can get allies throughout the state that will join us in this fight to save California,” said Wesson, D-Culver City.
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