Absolutley disgusting!

[DesignerGal]

I dont know who I am more disgusted with! The woman or this freak!

Testimony in abuse trial starts

By BILL MONTGOMERY

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 02/17/06

Testimony began Thursday in the case of an Atlanta man accused of raping the 11-year-old daughter of a homeless woman he befriended on a MARTA bus, and whipping, beating and burning the woman's two younger daughters.

Prosecutors say Rodney Williams, 42, over a six-month period last year, physically abused three young girls left in his care by their homeless mother.



Prosecutors said during opening statements at Thursday's trial in Fulton Superior Court that homeless mother Shirley Ann Holmes was taken in by an engaging, persuasive man who promised to help her "until she got on her feet."

"Shirley Ann Holmes was at the end of her rope, and she was preyed upon," Assistant District Attorney Linda Dunikoski told jurors.

If convicted of every charge, Williams, accused of raping the 11-year-old, plus molestation and 13 counts of child cruelty against the child's 8- and 9-year-old sisters between March and September of last year, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

"This trial is about control and domination of little girls solely for the sexual pleasure and gratification of that man," said Dunikoski as she pointed to Williams in the courtroom.

"You've seen those movies about a baby left on a doorstep? That's like what Shirley Ann Holmes did," defense attorney Brandon Lewis countered in his opening statement to the jurors that includes six women. "We will show you that Shirley Ann Holmes didn't want to be a mother ... that during those six months, she saw her children only three times."

The incidents began last March on a bus, where Williams spotted a distraught Holmes taking her daughters to D.H. Stanton Elementary School, Dunikoski told the jurors. Holmes and her children had been living in a homeless shelter on Milton Avenue for three days; her husband was in prison, she was unable to find a steady residence, the prosecutor said.

"Our evidence will show that Williams approached, and said 'I see you're really stressed out, and I can help you.' He appears to her to be a really nice man," the prosecutor said, and she accepted his suggestion they walk to his home on Roberts Drive.

Impressed by the defendant's home, Holmes agreed to let her daughters live with Williams ” the 11-year-old first, the younger children two weeks later. Williams' children are also accused of felony charges of abuse and are expected to go on trial in the next few weeks.

The second night in Williams' house, the 11-year-old was told to sleep with the defendant, though he did not touch her; the third night, she was raped, the prosecutor said. When the younger children moved in, they slept on a pallet at the foot of Williams' bed, while the defendant had sex with their sister, she added.

The evidence will include testimony by a detective and the youngsters that Williams beat them, forced them to stay on their knees for hours without sleep, punished with boiling water poured on their hands and arms, Dunikoski said.

Lewis told jurors the defense case will provide evidence of a "mother who gave her children up. Our evidence will show Rodney Williams' home was a structured environment. In his home he required them to do chores, he made them pray, he made them say 'thank you' when someone did something for them, and they didn't like that."

[cars]

SnoozeControl wrote: Is there physical evidence of the child abuse and molestation? I'm not defending the guy, but it sounds kind of weird.


Like Snooze said, if there is evidence of these charges being true, & then he's actually convicted, than just life in prison is too easy on this guy. He should be put in a cell with "real friendly" cell mates that will poke & prod him for the rest of his life!!!

[DesignerGal]

I never thought about the mom and daughters trying to con him. Good perspective! It would work wouldnt it? They would get some kind of resitution right?

[lady cop]

the prosecutors did not bring a rape case without some evidence of same. she's no prize either, sounds like she pimped out her daughter.

[OpenMind]

If the facts given are true, then the guy is pure evil. The woman is one of the growing numbers of women who are not mother types. But it is right to allow the case to decide before we jump to conclusions. Child abuse is a highly emotive subject and the public automatically feel disgust for the accused before the facts are proved.

[Sheryl]

Who the hell lets their kids go live with absolute strangers. Homeless or not my kids are with me.