Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 10, 2006 22:24:47 GMT -5
Family spokesman: Suspect is innocent----McKinney: He says evidence
lacking in real estate worker's death
The family spokesman for a Dallas man accused of fatally stabbing a real
estate professional in McKinney says that Kosoul Chanthakoummane is
innocent and that he doesn't believe evidence gathered at the crime scene
ties his friend to the homicide.
Jason Herrin, boyfriend of Mr. Chanthakoummane's sister, said Mr.
Chanthakoummane, 25, came to Texas 7 months ago for a new start after
having been in prison since age 16.
"We thought this would be the best place for him, away from his old
crowd," Mr. Herrin said. Mr. Chanthakoummane was released from a North
Carolina prison in February after serving 7 years of an 11-year sentence
for 2 counts each of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
"This was his fresh start. ... Do you think he's going to do something to
go back to prison?"
McKinney police believe he did. They say they are confident that Mr.
Chanthakoummane stabbed Sarah Anne Walker 27 times on July 8 and then
stole the Rolex watch and a silver ring she was wearing.
McKinney police Capt. Randy Roland, who oversees the criminal
investigation unit, said police are strengthening their case for
prosecution. But before an arrest was made this week, police had forensic
evidence from the model home where Ms. Walker was found, witness accounts
and a composite sketch all pointing to Mr. Chanthakoummane.
Police would not comment on whether a DNA match led to Tuesday's arrest.
But sources have told WFAA-TV (Channel 8) that DNA taken from the crime
scene matches the suspect's DNA.
Mr. Chanthakoummane's family doesn't believe it.
Mr. Chanthakoummane has two half brothers in North Carolina and a sister,
Sopha "Monica" Chanthakoummane, who has said that she doesn't want to
speak publicly. Neither of their parents, who are immigrants from Laos,
speaks English very well. As a result, Mr. Herrin said he is the family
spokesman.
"Someone has to say he didn't do this. He's innocent," Mr. Herrin said
Friday, while sitting outside a coffee shop near the North Dallas
apartment that he, his girlfriend, her son and Mr. Chanthakoummane share.
It's the same apartment where police arrested Mr. Chanthakoummane on
Tuesday night. He was watching his 7-year-old nephew at the time.
Ms. Chanthakoummane's son is confused by his uncle's arrest and police
being in his home, Mr. Herrin said.
"We asked him if he knows 'what is going on with your uncle.' And he says,
'Yeah, he killed some girl,' " Mr. Herrin said. "I have to explain to him
that the police say he did this. But it's not true."
As of Friday, Mr. Chanthakoummane did not have an attorney. David Kleckner
was assigned to be his court-appointed attorney Wednesday but was pulled
off the case Thursday, because Mr. Chanthakoummane "does not qualify for a
court-appointed attorney," Mr. Kleckner said.
Mr. Herrin said the family was told that he doesn't qualify because he's
not indigent.
Mr. Chanthakoummane had been working as a delivery driver since June,
making about $10 an hour, Mr. Herrin said. And he was just accepted into
the University of Phoenix to study business. On his MySpace page, Mr.
Chanthakoummane said he is a college student and makes less than $30,000.
Mr. Chanthakoummane's MySpace page also has a picture of his white 1993
Ford Mustang. People in the McKinney neighborhood where Ms. Walker was
slain described seeing an Asian man with a newer model white Mustang in
the area that day, police said.
Police have seized Mr. Chanthakoummane's car. But Mr. Herrin isn't worried
about what evidence might be found there.
"There's nothing to find, so I'm not concerned," he said.
He describes Mr. Chanthakoummane as a quiet man who's focused on his
family.
When he wasn't working, Mr. Chanthakoummane was usually at home, Mr.
Herrin said. But he occasionally went to the movies or car races with a
small group of friends.
Vivian Hua, 23, one of those friends, said Mr. Chanthakoummane kept a low
profile.
"We would invite him out to clubs, and he wouldn't go," Ms. Hua said.
"He'd say, 'There's no way I'm going to put myself back in that situation'
" of going back to prison.
(source: Dallas Morning News)
lacking in real estate worker's death
The family spokesman for a Dallas man accused of fatally stabbing a real
estate professional in McKinney says that Kosoul Chanthakoummane is
innocent and that he doesn't believe evidence gathered at the crime scene
ties his friend to the homicide.
Jason Herrin, boyfriend of Mr. Chanthakoummane's sister, said Mr.
Chanthakoummane, 25, came to Texas 7 months ago for a new start after
having been in prison since age 16.
"We thought this would be the best place for him, away from his old
crowd," Mr. Herrin said. Mr. Chanthakoummane was released from a North
Carolina prison in February after serving 7 years of an 11-year sentence
for 2 counts each of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
"This was his fresh start. ... Do you think he's going to do something to
go back to prison?"
McKinney police believe he did. They say they are confident that Mr.
Chanthakoummane stabbed Sarah Anne Walker 27 times on July 8 and then
stole the Rolex watch and a silver ring she was wearing.
McKinney police Capt. Randy Roland, who oversees the criminal
investigation unit, said police are strengthening their case for
prosecution. But before an arrest was made this week, police had forensic
evidence from the model home where Ms. Walker was found, witness accounts
and a composite sketch all pointing to Mr. Chanthakoummane.
Police would not comment on whether a DNA match led to Tuesday's arrest.
But sources have told WFAA-TV (Channel 8) that DNA taken from the crime
scene matches the suspect's DNA.
Mr. Chanthakoummane's family doesn't believe it.
Mr. Chanthakoummane has two half brothers in North Carolina and a sister,
Sopha "Monica" Chanthakoummane, who has said that she doesn't want to
speak publicly. Neither of their parents, who are immigrants from Laos,
speaks English very well. As a result, Mr. Herrin said he is the family
spokesman.
"Someone has to say he didn't do this. He's innocent," Mr. Herrin said
Friday, while sitting outside a coffee shop near the North Dallas
apartment that he, his girlfriend, her son and Mr. Chanthakoummane share.
It's the same apartment where police arrested Mr. Chanthakoummane on
Tuesday night. He was watching his 7-year-old nephew at the time.
Ms. Chanthakoummane's son is confused by his uncle's arrest and police
being in his home, Mr. Herrin said.
"We asked him if he knows 'what is going on with your uncle.' And he says,
'Yeah, he killed some girl,' " Mr. Herrin said. "I have to explain to him
that the police say he did this. But it's not true."
As of Friday, Mr. Chanthakoummane did not have an attorney. David Kleckner
was assigned to be his court-appointed attorney Wednesday but was pulled
off the case Thursday, because Mr. Chanthakoummane "does not qualify for a
court-appointed attorney," Mr. Kleckner said.
Mr. Herrin said the family was told that he doesn't qualify because he's
not indigent.
Mr. Chanthakoummane had been working as a delivery driver since June,
making about $10 an hour, Mr. Herrin said. And he was just accepted into
the University of Phoenix to study business. On his MySpace page, Mr.
Chanthakoummane said he is a college student and makes less than $30,000.
Mr. Chanthakoummane's MySpace page also has a picture of his white 1993
Ford Mustang. People in the McKinney neighborhood where Ms. Walker was
slain described seeing an Asian man with a newer model white Mustang in
the area that day, police said.
Police have seized Mr. Chanthakoummane's car. But Mr. Herrin isn't worried
about what evidence might be found there.
"There's nothing to find, so I'm not concerned," he said.
He describes Mr. Chanthakoummane as a quiet man who's focused on his
family.
When he wasn't working, Mr. Chanthakoummane was usually at home, Mr.
Herrin said. But he occasionally went to the movies or car races with a
small group of friends.
Vivian Hua, 23, one of those friends, said Mr. Chanthakoummane kept a low
profile.
"We would invite him out to clubs, and he wouldn't go," Ms. Hua said.
"He'd say, 'There's no way I'm going to put myself back in that situation'
" of going back to prison.
(source: Dallas Morning News)