Pubdate: Wed, 23 Oct 2002
Source: Wilmington Morning Star (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.wilmingtonstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Author: Millard K. Ives

OFFICER SLAYING CASE GOES TO JURY IN BRUNSWICK

BOLIVIA - Jurors began deliberating Tuesday in the trial of a Winnabow man
charged with attempted first-degree murder of a Brunswick County narcotics
officer during a drug raid last year.

The jury is trying to decide whether Paul Pelham was a drug dealer and knew
they were narcotics officers he was shooting at after they kicked down his
door.

Narcotics officer Steven Lanier was shot during the raid.

Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons gave the jurors several sets of instructions
to base their verdict on including the legal definitions of self-defense.

Judge Ammons also told jurors in order for them to convict the defendant on
attempted first-degree murder they must believe without a reasonable doubt
that he acted with malice, premeditation and deliberation and it was done
without just cause.

The instructions came after closing arguments by the prosecution and
defense.

"You had a week to determine if he (the defendant) made the right decision.
Paul Pelham didn't have that luxury - he had only seconds," said attorney
Calvin Chandler during his defense of Mr. Pelham.

Mr. Pelham is also charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to
kill, three counts of assault on a law enforcement officer and various drug
charges related to the raid on his Van Galloway Trail home on Oct. 5, 2001.

Mr. Chandler argued that the state never proved that any of the drugs or
drug paraphernalia found during the raid belonged to Mr. Pelham and that
officers had failed to test the "green leafy substance" to determine if it
was actually marijuana.

Mr. Pelham's roommate Lavar Atari Thomas also faces assault with a deadly
weapon and various drug charges related to the raid and his trial starts on
Oct. 28.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Thomas argued that Mr. Pelham was a known
drug dealer. He called Mr. Pelham's Van Galloway Trail home a crack house
where bullets, not food, were kept in the cupboards.

He brushed off Mr. Chandler's claim that the marijuana wasn't tested,
showing bags of it found in the home to jurors.

"You don't have to be an expert to know that this is marijuana," he said.

Mr. Chandler also argued that none of the witnesses heard the officers
announce themselves or that they had warrants before they kicked down the
door, causing Mr. Pelham to fear for his life and shoot in self defense.

Mr. Thomas argued Mr. Pelham knew deputies had suspected he was dealing and
was aware it was a drug raid.

"He shot Steven Lanier because he did not want to go to jail," Mr. Thomas
said.
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