Boot camp lawyers slam the other side

They're twisting facts, both sides say in closing arguments.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE, Times Staff Writer
Published October 12, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Robert Anderson, left, and his attorney Ben Crump talk to reporters outside the Bay County Juvenile Justice Center in Panama City. Anderson, the dead teen's father, was in court Thursday after being removed Wednesday. Related content Courtroom updates throughout the day Sue Carlton: Boot camp trial's tone: this city vs. the world

PANAMA CITY - Both sides have framed the boot camp case as a search for the truth.

"What it's about is getting to the truth," said Assistant State Attorney Mike Sinacore. "The case is about Martin Lee Anderson. The case is about eight defendants. The case is about responsibility and accountability."

During closing statements Thursday, each side accused the other of skewing the evidence, of manipulating the facts.

Defense attorney Jim White said prosecutors had a "twisted agenda."

Assistant State Attorney Scott Harmon accused the boot camp employees of a "cover-up" in the teen's death.

It was the seventh day in the trial of seven drill instructors and the camp's nurse, who all faces charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child.

Henry Dickens Jr., Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Charles Helms Jr., Henry McFadden Jr. and Joseph Walsh II and camp nurse Kristin Schmidt face a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted.

The jury is scheduled to begin deliberations today.

The proceedings were calmer than Wednesday's court, when Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet removed the teen's father from the courtroom.

The father, Robert Anderson, was back in court Thursday. Anderson's attorney, Ben Crump, said they met with the judge that morning, and Overstreet changed his mind.

Two key players were missing from the courtroom.

One juror, a middle-aged man who sat on the front row of the jury box, was excused because of illness. And accused guard Walsh, who was hospitalized for stress Thursday, was absent.

A few demonstrators waved signs outside the courthouse, but it was peaceful.

Videotapes have played a central role in this trial, and they continued to do so during closing statements.

Prosecutors again showed the videotape of the boot camp yard. This time, red arrows had been added, labeling the guards and nurse. That tape shows jurors what they need to know, Sinacore said.

"You just need to look at that and make a decision about what makes sense to you," he said.

The video holds the key to whether ammonia capsules were used properly, too, said Harmon, who gave the state's rebuttal.

"This video is telling you and it's telling all of us, this is what happened to Martin Anderson," Harmon said. "This is how he was abused, this is how he was neglected, this is how he was manhandled. This video's telling you this is how Martin Anderson was suffocated, this is how he was punished and this is how he was killed."

Defense attorneys ended their statements with another video - a montage of trial footage.

The attorneys pointed to medical testimony, saying that the video shows only the harsh realities of boot camp, not murder.

"They're putting the boot camp on trial," said attorney Robert Sombathy. "It is a stepson of the juvenile justice system. Everybody wants to fight crime. Everybody wants to cut down on juvenile crime. Not everyone wants to see how that's done."

Abbie VanSickle can be reached at vansickle@sptimes.com or 813-226-3373.

[Last modified October 11, 2007, 23:21:56]