Briefs

LOCAL & VCU

Woman sentenced to 18 years for her role in robbery, slaying of VCU student

LaPrecious Nicole Austin was sentenced for her role in the robbery and slaying of VCU student Tyler J. Binsted.

The third and final defendant in the robbery and slaying of Binsted was sentenced March 9–twice.

Judge Beverly W. Snukals of Richmond Circuit Court initially sentenced LaPrecious Nicole Austin to eight years in prison. But seconds after bailiffs led Austin from the courtroom, the judge shocked the defendant’s family and friends by announcing that she had made a mistake and wanted the sentence actually to be 18 years.

As Austin’s relatives and friends in the gallery burst into tears, a contrite Snukals ordered Austin returned to the courtroom and announced that she was adding 10 years to the term.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Logos Christian bookstore near VCU closes

After 37 years, the store at 716 W. Grace St. near VCU opened and closed for the last time yesterday.

“It’s just been a good run,” said Beth York, who owns the store with her husband, Bill. “We’re going to miss it. We’re mainly going to miss the people. Many have become our friends.”

In their retirement, the two plan to maintain the store’s Web site, http://www.logosbookstore.us, and sell study Bibles.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Fires damage homes in Henrico and Chesterfield

A fire Saturday morning caused significant damage to a home in western Henrico County, fire officials said. The fire in the 200 block of Ross Road was brought under control shortly before noon, said Capt. Chris Buehren of the Henrico Division of Fire.

Several occupants were at the home and managed to escape without injury, he said. The residents also were able to rescue some of their pets. A cat was treated at the scene and survived, but a bird died, fire officials said.

The American Red Cross is assisting the family. Fire officials said Saturday that the cause of the fire has yet to be determined but appeared to be accidental.

Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

N. Korea’s border-crossing ban regrettable

South Korea’s ruling party and several of the nation’s companies urged North Korea on Sunday to end its ban on border crossings by workers at a joint industrial park, while Seoul called the ban regrettable.

North Korea first closed the border on March 9 after cutting off the only remaining hot line with the South to protest its ongoing military drills with the United States. The two Koreas use the hot line to coordinate the passage of people and goods through their heavily fortified border. The North says the exercises are a rehearsal for an invasion.

The North reopened the border Tuesday but closed it again Friday, stranding hundreds of people working in the Kaesong industrial complex. The North’s move is “very regrettable,” Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said at a meeting with South Korean business owners who run factories in the sprawling complex.

South Korea’s ruling Grand National Party urged the North to end the ban.

Brief by The Associated Press

Kidnapped aid workers freed in Darfur

Three foreign aid workers kidnapped in Sudan’s Darfur region were freed on Saturday by captors who an official said were protesting over an international arrest warrant against the country’s president.

The aid workers from the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres were seized from their base on Wednesday after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of orchestrating war crimes in Darfur.

MSF Belgium’s general director Christopher Stokes told a news conference in Brussels MSF had paid no ransom. He said the group was reconsidering its operations at the scene of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Brief by the International Herald Tribune

‘Untouchable’ politician to challenge Indian polls

A leading “untouchable” politician vowed Sunday to take her party national in India’s upcoming elections and challenge the country’s two establishment parties.

Mayawati, who goes by one name, has made clear her ambition to be India’s next prime minister. Her Bahujan Samaj Party has emerged as a major force in Indian politics, winning control of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state.

Mayawati is a Dalit, or “untouchable,” who are the social outcasts at the bottom of India’s complex caste system.

While the party will run on its own, Mayawati said she was open to forming a coalition after the elections to ensure the ruling Congress party and the Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party are kept out of power.

Brief by The Associated Press