Monday, October 17, 2011

Custodial dad to go to trial for murder of 3-year-old son (Houston, Texas)

Notice that the media no longer mentions that dad RODERICK FOUNTAIN was custodial--even as he goes to trial for the murder of this 3-year-old son.  And to my knowledge, there has NEVER been any explanation as to why or how he became custodial or who made that decision.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8394457

Father will go on trial for the murder of his son
Katie McCall

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Several years ago, three-year-old Kendrick Jackson disappeared from his Houston home. His whereabouts remain a mystery to this day. His father was eventually charged in connection to his death. This week, he goes on trial.

The jury in this case will be forced to decide if a murder took place without Kendrick's body as evidence. The child vanished in April of 2006, leaving hundreds of volunteers devastated when they failed to recover his body.

Last week, Kendrick's father, 37-year-old Roderick Fountain, was in court on a motion to suppress statements he gave to police when his son vanished. This case hangs on the confession the prosecution says Fountain made more recently to someone during a prison term he was serving for a weapons conviction.

Back in 2006, he spent hours talking to detectives and his attorney, Charles Brown, Jr., argued that he was not read his Miranda rights.

Ultimately, the judge sided with the prosecutor, who was able to prove Fountain was not under arrest and therefore did not need to have his rights read to him, so the jury will hear those conversations that could reveal he lied to police.

If convicted on the felony murder charge, Roderick Fountain could be sentenced to life in prison.