84° RAIN, Defendant Names Aggressors in Videotaped Beating
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 8:06 p.m.
BARTOW | New interviews by prosecutors provide more insight into the infamous videotaped beating of a former Mulberry High School cheerleader.
- Videotaped Beatings
- Video: Sheriff Discusses the Beating
- Video: Beaten Teen's Parents Speak Out
- Video: Beating Suspects - First Appearance
- Audio: 911 Call from Video Taped Beating Case
- Affidavits - Teenagers Charged as Adults
- Affidavits - Teenagers Charged as Juveniles
- Gag Order Documents
- Photo Gallery: Beating Case Court Appearances
- Victoria Lindsay's Statement
- Witness' Statement
- Suspects' and Victim's Statement
- High Bail Set For Beating Case Suspect
- Notice Filed to Sue Judd Over Inquiry Remarks
- House Arrest Lifted for Beating-Case Teen
- Teens' Interviews Shed More Light on Beating Case
- Judge Grants Beating-Case Teen More Freedom as She Awaits Trial
- 3 Cleared In Beating Incident
- Charges Dropped Against Three in Teen Beating
- Suspect in Beating Must Keep Mum on Case
- Teen Beating Suspect Can Get Job, But Can't Talk
- Suspect Wants to Discuss Beating
- New Video Documents More of Beating
- New Video in Teen Beating Case
- Beating Suspects Given More Freedom
- MySpace Profile In Beating Case - Whose Is It?
- 7 Beating Suspects Plead Not Guilty
Kayla Hassall, 15, who still faces criminal charges in the case that has spread like wildfire across the Internet, spoke in a June 11 interview with prosecutors about the videotaped beating.
Eight teenagers were accused of beating Victoria Lindsay, 17, and threatening to post video footage of the attack on MySpace and YouTube.
Hassall speaks in the interview about how a video camera might have helped fuel the teenagers’ fury and identifies who she says were the primary aggressors in the attack.
An audio recording of the interview was recently provided to The Ledger.
Hassall explained why the incident spun out of control and admits it should never have been taken as far as it went.
Hassall said her mother’s video camera was used to capture the beating. She denies filming the thrashing or hitting Lindsay.
She blames two girls, Brittini Hardcastle, 17, and April Cooper, 15, as being the ones who punched Lindsay, and Brittany Mayes, 17, as being responsible for filming the attack.
She insists Mercades Nichols, 17, told Lindsay to leave and wasn’t part of the attack.
Nichols has been characterized by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd as coordinating the attack and “luring” Lindsay to her home.
Hassall said she didn’t intervene to help break up the beating because she was afraid of Hardcastle.
Hassall and the four other girls continue to face charges of kidnapping and battery.
Earlier this month, charges were dropped on three teenagers accused in the beating -- Cara Murphy, 16, Stephen Schumaker, 18, and Zachary Ashley, 17 -- because there was insufficient evidence against them.
Hassal said the boys were not serving as lookouts and also didn’t implicate Murphy in the videotaping or beating.
Murphy, Schumaker and Ashley have also given recorded statements to prosecutors.
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June 25, 2008 11:36:04 pm
RE: http://www.theledger.com/article/20080625/NEWS/483098027
Interesting. Wonder why she gave an interview with prosecutor's. She's working out a deal I bet.
EDIT: Oops, just noticed a thread existed on this. The post a comment link on the article said no discussion existed. Ah well.
June 26, 2008 11:04:16 am
i have been video taped before. it never once made me feel aggressive.
June 27, 2008 4:27:55 am
Why should she be able to cut a deal? She has lied about so many things i don't know where to start. According to police, who watched the whole video, she did punch Tori. She did tape her. If getting in the middle of her and Brittini Hardcastle and pointing her finger in tori's face and screaming like a sailor is afraid, what? She was in on everything. Is lying through her teeth. Had no sympathy at anytime for Victoria. Refused to let Tori use her cell phone. Eggs on the beating in the back ground. NO DEAL. She said her and Mercades said they were going to tell the truth. Huh. They got together, just like the other four, maybe up a bunch of lies to protect themselves. and turned on the other girls. This girl was NEVER scared of Brittini Hardcast. Maybe, she better be now since that little devil got off of house arrest. The sheriff was right. pact mentality. Like a pack of wolves now turning on each other. THey are just digging their selves further into a whole. Tell the truth. Its on the video. DUH????
July 6, 2008 1:24:37 am
O.K. So princess whoever was right. I am back. The first time I watched this video was tonight. Without her face being blocked out. Oh my God. What ever these little devils get they deserve. LIARS, *****S, *****S. "Oh, I'm mad because we are getting threats." TOUGH. You should know how it feels to be scared just like poor girl. You didn't care then did you? So why should anyone feel sorry for any of them now. It makes me absolutely sick. Oh yea, they are plastered all over the internet. Be careful what you wish for sweeties.
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