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By TIMES WIRES
Published September 21, 2006

At her trial, defendant describes night of murder

"I just closed my eyes and pulled the trigger" said Victoria Jackson on an audiotape a Hillsborough County sheriff's detectives played for jurors Wednesday. It was the first time during Jackson's first-degree murder trial that jurors heard her version of the events the night of July 29, 2005. Three days before, Jackson had helped her boyfriend rob and kill gourmet popcorn shop owner Jeffrey Dampier Jr. as they drove his van around southern Hillsborough County, authorities said. Jackson got her chance to speak Wednesday, as the state wrapped up its case.

Storms wants illegal immigrants out of jails

Hillsborough County Commissioner Ronda Storms is pressing the federal government to do a better job of identifying and prosecuting illegal immigrants, and wants the county reimbursed for the cost of holding them in jail. Illegal immigrants typically make up about 10 percent of the county jail population, and housing them this year will cost an estimated $11.3-million, according to a report presented to the Hillsborough County Commission Wednesday. Hillsborough sheriff's Col. David Parrish said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has access to the jail's database, and it's up to it to deal with the illegal immigrants who have been arrested on local charges. "I just think it's a copout to say it's a federal problem," Storms said. She said "the federal government has refused to secure the border." As a result, illegal immigrants commit crimes against other illegals and U.S. citizens. Many become repeat offenders, she said. ICE has 48 hours to take an illegal immigrant into custody for deportation once their sentence on local charges is up.

Leaky roof vote brings downpour of criticism

The latest example of simmering city-county tensions came up Wednesday as Hillsborough County commissioners discussed fixing a leaky roof at the Tampa Convention Center. Before approving $6-million for the roof, commissioners took city officials to task for letting that problem fester and said they aren't doing their part to maintain the county's three largest sports venues. The commission voted in July to repair the Convention Center's roof and air-conditioning system using tourist taxes, raising concerns then that the city isn't doing enough for upkeep at the sports arenas. "We'll help you on your buildings, you help us on our buildings," Commissioner Ronda Storms said. The county owns the St. Pete Times Forum, Raymond James Stadium and Legends Field. Darrell Smith, the city's chief of staff, said the Convention Center is the responsibility of both because it provides an economic benefit to both.

[Last modified September 21, 2006, 01:08:37]