Lead Story
In November in a courtroom in West Palm Beach, Florida, Judge Walter Colbath told accused rapist Byron Bryant, 23, that he would not reduce his bail, thus making it likely that Bryant would have to stay in jail pending trial. Incredulous, Bryant threw a nearby book (a paperback copy of Presumed Innocent) at Colbath, who then cited him for contempt of court (worth five more months in jail). Bryant let out a stream of obscenities at Colbath, and the exchanges continued until Bryant was led from the courtroom with four more contempt citations.
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Compelling Explanations
In September a judge in Clearwater, Florida, released Carl Edward Anderson from jail, where he had been held since April on burglary and attempted rape charges, because the victim told police Anderson’s penis (shown to her in photographs) does not resemble the penis of the man who raped her. Police said Anderson had confessed to the burglary and had a rap sheet 15 feet long. However, his urinary opening is said to be at the tip of the penis, not on the top, as the rapist’s was.
