The 21-year-old who stands accused of fatally stabbing a South Philadelphia real-estate developer last month in Rittenhouse Square was granted bail today and his charges were downgraded to third-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who attended the preliminary hearing, said the decision to drop the first-degree murder charge was due to a lack of evidence to support it.
The courtroom this morning had exceeded capacity with those standing in the corner of Mr. Michael White, the young defendant who last week visited the Office of the Philadelphia District Attorney and told investigators where to find the murder weapon, a knife which had been thrown onto a rooftop.
“He’s got nothing to hide,” said Mr. Dan Stevenson, the Public Defender who’s representing the beloved poet.
Mr. Stevenson said he anticipates the community will further rally behind Mr. White to raise the $15,000.00 needed to avail himself of house arrest. The bail amount, $150,000.00, is above the usual guidelines, Mr. Krasner admitted.
Parents and loved ones of the deceased, Mr. Sean Schellenger, were also present today in court. But they were dwarfed by the size of the crowd who believe the defendant, who on the night of the Chancellor Street encounter, acted in self-defense.
Mr. Stevenson confirmed a self-defense argument is forthcoming at trial. Mr. Krasner – who noted his office is still investigating the matter and that when the case goes back to court on October 30th, 2018, the charge could be voluntary manslaughter only – said this is a case that “should be charged and prosecuted.”
Mr. Stevenson feels otherwise.
“If I had my way, the whole thing would be thrown out,” he stated outside the Juanita Kidd Stout Criminal Justice Center.
Mr. Krasner ruled out a plea deal for Mr. White until or unless more evidence is unearthed.
A rally for Mr. White, who didn’t speak in the courtroom today but who whispered a few times with his representation, was held yesterday evening outside Mr. Krasner’s Center City Philadelphia office. Former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Nina Ahmad, who recently ran for the U.S. Congress and who is rumored to be preparing a campaign for City Council-at-Large, was among the speakers.
“I grieve for Mr. Schellenger, but I stand strong with all of you for justice to prevail,” said Mrs. Nina Ahmad, who asserted that Mr. White was defending himself.
Shirmina Smith has known Mr. White for six-years. In 2016, they were teammates in Washington, D.C., at an international poetry competition. Ms. Smith on Tuesday afternoon said she had talked to Mr. White, whom she characterized as being “in good spirits.” Before the July 12th incident, Mr. White is said to have been working on a project entitled Social Therapist, which aims to use artists as conduits for self-healing.
“He’s a poetry boy, he’s not trying to live this life,” Ms. Smith said. “His situation is unfathomable because it doesn’t make sense for the person I know.”
Leaders from the local branch of the NAACP and the National Action Network attended Mr. White’s preliminary hearing. Mr. Krasner said his attendance, which was seen by some as unusual, was due to the high-profile nature of the case and because he wanted to be a unifying figure to mitigate the very real (racial) divide; Mr. White is black and Mr. Schellenger was white.
Of the outpouring of support Mr. White has received, the district attorney said: “it’s a lot of people of goodwill who want the truth.”
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