Teacher Attack Trial

By Jessica Taloney Reporter

A jury will decide this week whether a teenager accused of brutally attacking his high school English teacher will spend the next ten years in prison. Teacher Attack Trial

Published: Mon, March 10, 2008 - 5:59 pm

Jessica Taloney

A teenager accused of attacking his high school English teacher will face a judge and jury this week.
Randolph Parker, 17, is charged with 2nd degree assault. He faces ten years in prison for the attack, which happened last May.
Prosecutors say Parker punched Melinda Rudisill, 61, in her face outside her Murphy High School classroom. The attack was caught on tape by the school's security camera.
The video recording shows a teenager, who prosecutors say is Parker, with a bandana around his face knocking Rudisill to the ground.
Judge Charles Graddick ruled today to allow the video as evidence.
"I'm concerned about everything the jurors are going to see," said Christine Hernandez, Parker's defense attorney, who would not comment specifically about the video.
Assistant District Attorney Caroline Siderius, says the video is a big part of the prosecution's case. "That shows exactly what happened," said Siderius. "It's going to show her falling down and her injuries."
While Graddick will allow the video, he is not allowing any discussion of gangs or gang symbols, which was a focal point of the testimony during Parker's bond hearing last year.
Graddick says that testimony will not be allowed during the trial. Siderius says that's not a problem.
"The state didn't object to not using any evidence of gang affiliation just because it would confuse the jury, and it really isn't relevant at this point," she said.
The jury will start hearing testimony Tuesday morning. Siderius says she'll call three students to testify, who are all seen in the video witnessing the attack. Siderius says she will also call Murphy High School principal Doug Estle, a detective, a school resource officer, and the victim.