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Teens accused of killing Australian Chris Lane face court

Michael Vincent reported this story on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 08:18:00

TONY EASTLEY: In the United States, three teenagers accused of shooting dead Australian baseball player Chris Lane have appeared in court for a preliminary hearing.

North America correspondent Michael Vincent is at the Oklahoma court house.

Michael, good morning. Remind us what this case is all about.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Twenty-two year old Australian baseballer Chris Lane had been living in the United States on a scholarship at a local university. He'd gone for a jog from his girlfriend's house and he was shot in the back by a car believed to be, shot from a car driving by. He died at the scene. And now the court case of the three teenagers charged with his shooting, his murder, is underway.

It's a preliminary hearing to send them to trial.

TONY EASTLEY: Now at this preliminary hearing there in the town of Duncan, some surprise developments Michael?

MICHAEL VINCENT: One of those three teenagers has turned state's witness against the other two - James Edwards Junior, who was the front right passenger in the car. He says that the shot came from behind him, his friend Chancey Luna fired the shot. He didn't see the weapon till later on when Chancey Luna handed it to Michael Jones, the driver, who then attempted to hide it inside the engine compartment of the car, at which point he said: "I thought there was supposed to be blanks in it," to which Chancey Luna replied: "I'm sorry."

Very dramatic evidence, given that if you remember back to August last year there were statements reportedly from, that the police said came from Michael Jones, the driver, who said that: we were bored and we decided we just wanted to shoot someone.

TONY EASTLEY: Michael, the town of Duncan where this is being held, how is it treating this court case now? It received a lot of publicity at the start of course.

MICHAEL VINCENT: There are multiple camera crews here from Australia and local networks. It's also been written up in the Vanity Fair and other major publications across the United States. So it's drawn a lot of local attention and state attention in Oklahoma. Other people around this state know about it.

It's also caused a lot of tension in the town because people have taken sides I guess.

We also know from having spoken to Chris Lane's baseball coach that they still feel strongly about his loss almost six months on. He spoke to us and told us that they're going to retire his number from the baseball team as the season starts. They're going to have an event to do that.

DINO ROSATO: It's emotional just to even speak about him. My heart hurts right now. The tears are still tough to hold back.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: You established this scholarship fund in his name. How successful has that been?

DINO ROSATO: To this point, very successful. I think there's around $10,000 in the foundation. I don't know exactly how they're going to disperse the money, that's an administrative issue. Just have to wait and see.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Your players have all got a number seven shirt, Chris Lane's number. Why did you do that?

DINO ROSATO: It was one of those things where we could pay tribute to what he meant to us. You know, we're going to wear them under our uniforms all year. It was a way for us just to, for the boys to heal but also to show our commitment to Chris and what he was about.

TONY EASTLEY: Chris Lane's baseball coach, Dino Rosato, and before that our correspondent in Duncan, Oklahoma, Michael Vincent, reporting on that preliminary hearing of the three teenagers accused of shooting the young Australian baseball player.


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