Topline
A Missouri judge agreed to keep court documents in the Ralph Yarl shooting case sealed from the public, saying they have led to threats against 84-year-old defendant Andrew Lester, who shot Yarl after the Black teenager mistakenly knocked on his door in April, in a case that has drawn national outrage.
Protesters attend a rally for Black teen Ralph Yarl in front of U.S. District Court in Kansas City, … [+]
Key Facts
According to the Associated Press, Clay County Judge Louis Angles’ decision to seal the documents follows a request from Lester’s lawyer, who said the defendant has been “forced to move three times” due to threats.
The ruling mentions reporting of the case, of which an “overwhelming majority” labels Lester’s actions as “racially motivated.”
According to the judge, this “virtually eliminates” any defense about the “reasonableness” of Lester’s actions.
The judge also expressed concern that by not sealing the documents, any witness brought in by the defense attorneys could face intimidation, which could influence the case outcome.
The 84-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault in the first degree and armed criminal action in the case.
Yarl has been recovering from his injuries and recently participated in an annual Memorial Day run commemorating people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.
What To Watch For
Lester is set to appear before the court on Thursday for the first time since entering a not-guilty plea. Thursday’s hearing is expected to be mostly procedural, during which dates for future hearings will be set, the AP report added. Lester remains out of custody after posting a $20,000 bond.
Big Number
$3.47 million. That is the amount a GoFundMe page set up to cover Yarl’s medical expenses has raised so far.
Key Background
On April 13, Yarl rang Lester’s doorbell at 10 p.m. after mistaking it for the address where he was supposed to pick up his siblings. Lester then fired at the teenager twice through his glass front door, hitting Yarl once in the head. Yarl’s family alleges the teenager was shot a third time outside the home and was told not “come around here.” After initially being arrested, Lester was let go by the police without any charges. Lester told police he was acting in self-defense as he believed Yarl was trying to break in. The 84-year-old was eventually arrested and charged after the case drew national media attention and outrage.
Further Reading
Judge agrees to seal court documents in Ralph Yarl shooting; suspect to be in court (Associated Press)
Ralph Yarl Shooting: Andrew Lester Pleads Not Guilty To Assault (Forbes)
Man Charged With Shooting Black Kansas City Teen Who Went To Wrong House, Prosecutors Say (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/06/01/ralph-yarl-shooting-judge-agrees-to-seal-court-documents-citing-threats-against-suspect/