Tillman's Murder Trial
Paul Dalrymple
Former U.S. gold medal boxer faces his biggest fight in murder trial
Prosecution admits a slim case against Olympian Henry Tillman
By John Hiscock
The National Post
Henry Tillman won a gold medal in boxing in the 1984 Olympics defeating
Canada's Willie de Wit, right. He has been accused of murdering one man and
wounding another outside a nightclub near the Los Angeles airport.
LOS ANGELES - While Mike Tyson campaigns for a $20-million (US) bout with
world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, a man who beat him twice in the
ring and went on to become an Olympic hero sits in a California courtroom
facing the prospect of spending the rest of his life in jail for a crime he
may not have committed.
In 1984, Henry Tillman stood proudly on the Olympic platform at the Los
Angeles Sports Arena, just a few streets from his home, as the gold medal
for heavyweight boxing was hung around his neck.
On the way to Olympic glory Mr. Tillman twice easily outpointed Mike Tyson
and beat Canadian Willie DeWitt. He married the beautiful granddaughter of
Olympic track great Jesse Owens and became a living symbol of success in the
ghetto of south-central Los Angeles, where he grew up.
He drove a Mercedes convertible, wore designer clothes and spent his
evenings in expensive restaurants and nightclubs. He had a role as a boxer
in Rocky V.
But his love of gambling and good living led to his downfall, according to
those who know him.
"He blew everything," said his former trainer and mentor Mercer "Smitty"
Smith. "He was a follower. He got involved with the wrong people."
Mr. Tillman, who had a professional record of 25-6 when he retired from
boxing in 1992, was first put on probation and then jailed for credit card
fraud. He confessed to being an addicted gambler.
Then, on a foggy night in January, 1996, prosecutors claim he brazenly shot
two men, one fatally, in the car park of a nightclub near Los Angeles
airport.
Yet questions are being asked about the lack of evidence being presented in
his case. At a time when the film Hurricane is highlighting the injustice
done to former boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who spent 19 years in jail
for a crime he did not commit, some have suggested that Mr. Tillman, too,
may be a victim of over-eager prosecutors.
He is charged with murder and attempted murder but Michael Duarte, the
prosecutor, has conceded that the case against him is "very difficult."
So far, after testimony from eight eyewitnesses in Santa Monica, Calif.,
prosecutors have failed to establish that Mr. Tillman was at the scene of
the crime.
No gun was recovered and although the shooting took place just outside the
crowded club at closing time, most witnesses vanished into the night.
"People are reluctant to get involved," said Mr. Duarte. "They're just
scared. It's the fear factor ... the intimidation factor."
Murphy Richardson, a witness who told police in 1996 that he saw Mr. Tillman
at the nightclub on the night of the shooting, testified this week he could
not remember whether the suspect was there or not.
Another, Fernando Wright, who originally told police he heard shots and saw
a car driving off, told jurors this week he did not remember hearing any
shots and saw no car.
Only Mr. Tillman's brother and his father were in the courtroom's otherwise
empty public gallery to hear Mr. Duarte outline the case against him. He
said that Mr. Tillman, 39, had had a "stare down" with two suspected drug
dealers in the crowded Townhouse Nightclub.
When they left, said Mr. Duarte, Mr. Tillman followed them outside, fired a
.38-calibre revolver into their Lincoln Continental, killing Kevin Anderson
and gravely wounding Leon Milton. A girl who was in the club and had had two
earlier confrontations with Mr. Tillman claims she saw him shoot the two men
and recognized him by his voice, said Mr. Duarte.
The dead man had a criminal record that included firearms convictions and
Mr. Milton has a lengthy record of firearms and drug convictions. Mr. Milton
has not identified Mr. Tillman and the evidence has left many questioning
why the former boxer is in the dock.
"Henry Tillman would not hurt a fly unless someone hurt him first," said Mr.
Smith.
Mr. Tillman's former wife, Gina, who divorced him two years ago, said: "I
believe one hundred percent in his innocence and it breaks my heart to go
through this. Hopefully this will be over soon so he can move on with his
life. He is a good person, with a great heart and spirit."
Albert DeBlanc Jr., the defence lawyer, has postponed his opening statement
until after the prosecution has presented its case. The trial is expected to
last another two weeks.
Melanie Ley
<Paul...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>Henry Tillman won a gold medal in boxing in the 1984 Olympics defeating
>Canada's Willie de Wit, right. He has been accused of murdering one man and
>wounding another outside a nightclub near the Los Angeles airport.
>"He blew everything," said his former trainer and mentor Mercer "Smitty"
>Smith. "He was a follower. He got involved with the wrong people."
>"Henry Tillman would not hurt a fly unless someone hurt him first," said Mr.
>Smith.
A really sad story. Smitty's words are very true. Henry is a
good-hearted person and, some years ago, was a rolemodel for youth in
the inner city. I'm glad I knew him in his better days.
Mel
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COBALT1914
AND ANTONIO DIAZ?
SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME!
HERE IS AN IDEA.
EMAIL THEM AT W...@WBCBOXING.com AND VOICE YOUR OPINION. I MEAN, ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH. IF THE WBC WAS BASED HERE IN THE US, I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY WILL
BOUGHT UP ON CHARGES TOO.
TOTALLY DISGRACEFUL!
Brian Davis
Riverdale, IL
COBALT1914
Mr Suliaman...
We as boxing fans are confused as to how Julio Ceasar Chavez come to be ranked
number one in a Division where you have ZAB Judah being undefeated and Antonio
Diaz winning 22 straight fights against good competition.
The World Boxing Council as an organization is really starting to embarrass
themselves ever since the way you treated Naseem Hamed when he tried to uniy
the featherweight title.
Yes, youi may write back and talk about all the things you have done to better
the sport of boxing with your Medical Congress and all. But you then contradict
yourself by putting Julio Ceasar Chavez in a position to get seriouly hurt by
140 pound Champion Kosta Tzyu.
The feeling here is that if the WBC was Headquarterd in the United States, they
will be going through the same trial and tribulations as the International
Boxing Federation.
We really hope that your organization starts to do better by the fans.
Brian Davis
Riverdale, IL
abc
COBALT1914 <cobal...@aol.comBrian> wrote in article
<20000204234729...@nso-cq.aol.com>...
> Here is the letter I just E-Mailed to the World Boxing Council:::
>
> Mr Suliaman...
>
> We as boxing fans are confused
Here's an idea, Speak for yourself! Has someone appointed you the
spokesman for boxing fans around the world? Whether i agree or disagree
with what you say, nothing you say represents me or anyone else!
COBALT1914
spokesman for boxing fans around the world? Whether i agree or disagree
with what you say, nothing you say represents me or anyone else!
>>
Take some of that bass out of your voice Hombre`. I felt safe in saying Boxing
fans becasue I thought people like you were intelligent enough to know an
injustice when it's staring you in the face.
I am sure the majority if not concensus of people in this newsgroup that has a
brain the size of a flea agrees with the feelings in that letter.
Brian Davis
Riverdale, IL
michael meza
idol go Chavez.
COBALT1914
mm1...@webtv.net (michael meza) writes:
>I don't care what anybody says but i have to stay true to my mexican
>idol go Chavez.
That is good to stay true to your Idol. Evander Holyfield is my Idol too. But
lets be realistic here. Chavez, just like Holyfield is old. Chavez, in his
last Televised bout, got beat-up by a journey/trialhorse fighter. He had two
wins since then, the that doenst make him number one.
Zab Judah hasnt lost a fight yet, and thank goodness he will pick-up the IBF
belt this weekend, and Antonio Diaz has done nothing but win and be impressive
for his last 22 fights.
And you still say Chavez deserved to be Ranked #1?
Brian Davis
Riverdale, IL
michael meza
iguess have to live with it.Besides i give him credit because how many
fighters you know that are his age are even a top contender let alone
number 1.Besides Hoyfield i would pretty much say that's it.