[Venus Forever]

Man pleads innocent in killing of tennis stars' half-sister


October 8, 2003
COMPTON, Calif. (AP) -- A man accused of killing the half-sister of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams pleaded innocent Wednesday to murder and other charges.

The suspect, Aaron Michael Hammer, was scheduled to return to court on Oct. 22, when a date for his preliminary hearing would be set.

Yetunde Price, 31, was shot Sept. 14 while riding with a companion in a sports utility vehicle in Compton. Price, a registered nurse and beauty shop owner, was also a personal assistant to her half-sisters.

Authorities have said Hammer had ties to a gang but is not a member.

In addition to murder, Hammer was arraigned Wednesday on charges of personal use of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The Williams sisters began their tennis careers in Compton before moving to Florida in their early teens.

 

[*JR*]

Any news YET on the reported other shooter?

 

[AjdeNate!]

I really wish news reporting agencies would get the semantics right. You can NOT plead "innocent". You can plead 'guilty', 'not guilty', 'no-contest', or choose to stand mute (in some states).

There's a whole big difference from 'innocent' to 'not-guilty'.

 

[starr]

Huge

 

[Serendy Willick]

I hope this varmit rots like hell in prison before they fry his fat ass.

 

[R&J]

I hope this varmit rots like hell in prison before they fry his fat ass.

Yep, exactly!

 

[Caz]

I hope this varmit rots like hell in prison before they fry his fat ass.

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Surely it is important to have a fair trial and take the time to make sure you are convicting the right person of whatever crime and not just the first person who comes along? If not, aside from it being a miscarriage of justice, the right person may still be out there and able to commit more crimes.

 

[Serendy Willick]

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Surely it is important to have a fair trial and take the time to make sure you are convicting the right person of whatever crime and not just the first person who comes along? If not, aside from it being a miscarriage of justice, the right person may still be out there and able to commit more crimes.

Whatever. Had this been a black Southside LA crips gang member, you wouldnt given a shit. I'm sick and tired of the attempts to make this lard ass a sympethetic figure. His ass was one of the people that shot at that car that night whether his gun killed Yetunde or not, he shot at the care HE SHOULD ROT IN JAIL.

 

[griffin]

Whatever. Had this been a black Southside LA crips gang member, you wouldnt given a shit.

From what I know of Caz, yes she would have.

I happen to think he is probably guilty, and I hope the squeeze him hard to get the names of the other shooters, but her certainly wouldn't be the first person railroaded in the rush to find a suspect in a high-profile crime if he isn't.