Mediaboss Marketing

A violent gang attack of two women on the Lewis McManus Trail in Beckley in May 2015 by the so-called "Knockout Boys" may have been a social media stunt that went too far, one of the suspect's defense attorneys told jurors during opening statements on Tuesday.

Yoshua "Yoshi" Dewall, now 20, was 18 when he was arrested by agents of Beckley Police Department and U.S. Marshals' Office in June 2015 on a charge of first-degree robbery, two counts of malicious wounding and one count of a conspiracy to commit a felony in connection.

His trial is before Raleigh County Circuit Judge Robert Burnside.

Police arrested Dewall and an alleged co-conspirator, Kasey Stewart, now 21, for the attacks on Crystal Stracener and Delia Marsh of Beckley. They are two of several men who allegedly participated in the beating of the two victims on the trail near New River Park. According to police reports, the men also laughed and danced in circles during the assault.

Stewart, who is serving a two to 10-year sentence for the attacks after pleading guilty in July 2015 to malicious assault, identified Dewall's role in the attacks.

Jerrad Alan McGhee, 30, and Wayne Scott Cassidy, 27, both of Beckley, were also charged with malicious wounding, first degree robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony for their alleged roles in the assaults.

Raleigh Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Steele said Dewall had conspired with Stewart to beat the two victims and stole property from them, but defense attorney Mike Froble told jurors there was no robbery.

"We know and we're not going to contest that these two girls got beat up," Froble said. "It was an attack.

"There is no robbery."

Froble also contested that prosecutors could prove that Dewall had conspired with Stewart to beat up the women and maliciously attack them.

"Was this a bunch of drunk and intoxicated kids putting something on youtube and media that they thought was funny ... and it got out of hand?" Froble asked jurors. "Maybe they didn't intend to beat them up that bad.

"Maybe they were doing what they thought was fun in their intoxicated state, and it got out of hand."

Froble also challenged what became known locally as the "Knockout Boys."

"There was no 'Knockout Boys,' " Froble said.

A "knockout game" on Facebook in 2015 encouraged players to randomly target and strike unsuspecting victims.

Police photos taken after the attack showed large, copiously bleeding wounds to Stracener's forehead and the back of her head and a dark, bloody gash on the back of Marsh's head.

In a photo displayed for jurors Tuesday, Stracener's face was covered in blood.

Stracener and Marsh were walking from Wilbrian Apartments on Ewart Avenue back to their home on May 26, 2015, when they encountered two men at the park entrance.

As the victims tried to walk by the men, several more men came out of the woods and surrounded them. According to courtroom statements, the men hit the victims in the head with a pair of brass knuckles, punched and kicked them and beat them with sticks.

The victims were able to reach Little General where they notified police of the attacks around 10:15 p.m.

"They said they'd been attacked with brass knuckles and sticks," BPD Officer Ryan Cuevas testified Tuesday. "They were going in and out of consciousness.

"They were bleeding profusely," he said. "They'd just been attacked, brutally."

Stracener, now 36, could identify only "Yoshi," or Dewall, on the night of the attacks, said Cuevas.

According to Steele, the two women were robbed of their cell phones, wallets, house keys and medications.

Stewart was arrested June 12 after he called the Beckley PD to see if he had any warrants on file. In an interview with BPD Detective Dave Allard, Stewart said he was under the influence of two different cough syrups and that he had been part of a group of men who had attacked the victims, according to statements by Steele.

Dewall was arrested June 11.

A witness told police that McGhee bragged to him about beating up two women near New River Park.

Later, Stewart identified Dewall, McGhee and Cassidy and two male juveniles who allegedly attacked Stracener and Marsh.

In his opening statement Tuesday, Steele said the attacks occurred after a suspect exchanged heated words with one of the victims.

"Brandon Steele says there's heated words," Froble said. "That's because there's a history."

He said there is no proof that Stracener and Marsh were robbed.

Froble said the attacks on Stracener and Marsh happened during a time that victims were reporting "knockouts" on several Beckley trails in the "Rails to Trails" system.

Read this article:
Trial begins for McManus Trail gang attackers - Beckley Register-Herald

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. (AP) Phil Mickelson isn't sure what's next for Jim "Bones" Mackay. He is sure there are going to be plenty of options for his longtime caddie.

Mickelson and Mackay announced last week they had decided to split up after 25 years and more than 600 tournaments around the world, ending one of golf's most successful relationships.

Mickelson's brother Tim is going to caddie for him for the rest of the year, and Lefty thinks there will be no shortage of potential suitors for Mackay.

"He's going to have some incredible opportunities," Mickelson said Monday in his first public comments since the split. "There's going to be a great player a lot of great players, but one great player's going to be lucky enough to have him and he's going to bring a lot to his game and they're going to be a great team. And then it gives me an opportunity to spend time with my brother for the rest of this year, which I'm looking forward to."

Tim Mickelson was the golf coach at Arizona State before he left the position to become Jon Rahm's agent, and Phil Mickelson thanked Rahm for approving his brother's new schedule. Tim Mickelson also carried his big brother's bag during the Mexico Championship when Mackay went down with a stomach virus.

Asked if Mackay will start working for Rahm, Phil Mickelson said he had no idea and didn't want to speculate on Mackay's next job.

"He's not told me anything and I think that he's going to have a lot of players call him and inquire about his services," Mickelson said. "That would be what I would anticipate. But I don't know."

Mickelson, who celebrated his 47th birthday on June 16, and Mackay started working together at a U.S. Open qualifier in Memphis, Tennessee in 1992. Mickelson was hoping to have their final round together at this year's U.S. Open, but he skipped the tournament to attend his oldest daughter's high school graduation in California.

Mackay went to Erin Hills in Wisconsin to scout the course in case a weather delay would have allowed Mickelson to make his tee time, but it didn't work out. Instead, their last round was in the St. Jude Classic in Memphis.

"We knew that final round in Memphis that that was our last round together or most likely," Mickelson said. "We were holding out hope that it wasn't, that we had one more week, and it was an emotional day. But we both know it's time."

Mickelson joined LPGA stars Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis for a skills challenge at Olympia Fields on Monday ahead of this weekend's KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Mickelson and KPMG also announced a donation by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation to the company's future leaders program, which awards college scholarships to young women and brings them to Stanford University for a leadership development retreat.

Mickelson signed autographs for about a half-hour after winning the skills competition, which included a couple different chipping contests and a knockout game involving images of each player behind plates of glass.

"I was nervous because I know how good they are," he said, "and it was fun because it gave me an opportunity to be around some of the best players in the world, best athletes in the world."

Read the original post:
Mickelson thinks Mackay will caddie again soon - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Photo: Curtis Compton, AP

FILE - This April 4, 2017 file photo shows Phil Mickelson smiling after chipping in for an eagle on the third hole during a practice round at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga. Mickelson isnt sure whats next for Jim "Bones" Mackay. He is sure there are going to be plenty of options for his longtime caddie. Mickelson and Mackay announced last week they had decided to split up after 25 years and more than 600 tournaments around the world, ending one of golfs most successful relationships. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

FILE - This April 4, 2017 file photo shows Phil Mickelson smiling...

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. (AP) Phil Mickelson isn't sure what's next for Jim "Bones" Mackay. He is sure there are going to be plenty of options for his longtime caddie.

Mickelson and Mackay announced last week they had decided to split up after 25 years and more than 600 tournaments around the world, ending one of golf's most successful relationships.

Mickelson's brother Tim is going to caddie for him for the rest of the year, and Lefty thinks there will be no shortage of potential suitors for Mackay.

"He's going to have some incredible opportunities," Mickelson said Monday in his first public comments since the split. "There's going to be a great player a lot of great players, but one great player's going to be lucky enough to have him and he's going to bring a lot to his game and they're going to be a great team. And then it gives me an opportunity to spend time with my brother for the rest of this year, which I'm looking forward to."

Tim Mickelson was the golf coach at Arizona State before he left the position to become Jon Rahm's agent, and Phil Mickelson thanked Rahm for approving his brother's new schedule. Tim Mickelson also carried his big brother's bag during the Mexico Championship when Mackay went down with a stomach virus.

Asked if Mackay will start working for Rahm, Phil Mickelson said he had no idea and didn't want to speculate on Mackay's next job.

"He's not told me anything and I think that he's going to have a lot of players call him and inquire about his services," Mickelson said. "That would be what I would anticipate. But I don't know."

Mickelson, who celebrated his 47th birthday on June 16, and Mackay started working together at a U.S. Open qualifier in Memphis, Tennessee in 1992. Mickelson was hoping to have their final round together at this year's U.S. Open, but he skipped the tournament to attend his oldest daughter's high school graduation in California.

Mackay went to Erin Hills in Wisconsin to scout the course in case a weather delay would have allowed Mickelson to make his tee time, but it didn't work out. Instead, their last round was in the St. Jude Classic in Memphis.

"We knew that final round in Memphis that that was our last round together or most likely," Mickelson said. "We were holding out hope that it wasn't, that we had one more week, and it was an emotional day. But we both know it's time."

Mickelson joined LPGA stars Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis for a skills challenge at Olympia Fields on Monday ahead of this weekend's KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Mickelson and KPMG also announced a donation by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation to the company's future leaders program, which awards college scholarships to young women and brings them to Stanford University for a leadership development retreat.

Mickelson signed autographs for about a half-hour after winning the skills competition, which included a couple different chipping contests and a knockout game involving images of each player behind plates of glass.

"I was nervous because I know how good they are," he said, "and it was fun because it gave me an opportunity to be around some of the best players in the world, best athletes in the world."

___

Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap

Continued here:
Mickelson thinks Mackay will caddie again soon - San Francisco Chronicle

MONTREAL Patrice Bernier goes back 17 years when the topic turns to the Montreal-Toronto soccer rivalry.

For Bernier, the Montreal Impact's loss toToronto FC in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference final last November was merely the latest chapter inthe on-again, off-again battle between Canada's two largest cities.

The next will come Wednesday night when TFC visits Saputo Stadium for the first leg of the two-game Canadian Championship final.

"In the A-League (circa 2000) we played against the Toronto Lynx a lot," said 37-year-old Bernier."I know that there were a lot more Toronto guys ontheir side and a lot more Montreal guys on our side, so there was no love when you played their team.

"I remember them a lot. Adrian Serioux, Lynden Hooper, Marco Reda. Those guys came up with the Lynx. It just carried over for me (in MLS). The name might have changed but TFC or Toronto (Lynx), it's the same for me."

The rivalry wasa natural when Montreal joinedMLS in 2012 (Toronto had already been there since 2007), but it only really took hold when they startedfacing each other in playoff games.TFC's first-ever post-season game was alacklustre 3-0 loss in a first round knockout game in Montreal in 2015.

Last season, it went through the roof as the Impact won the opening match of the two-legged conference final3-2 before 61,004 at Olympic Stadium only to lose5-2 in the return match before a sellout 36,000 at BMO Field, with TFC scoring two goals in extra time in the highest-scoring MLS playoff series ever.

Toronto lost the MLS Cup final to Seattle on penalties, but Greg Vanney's squad is back with a vengeancethis season, leading MLS with a 9-2-5 record. Montreal was slow off the mark but has levelled its record at 4-4-6 and is 2-0-2 in its last four.

"I like that rivalry aspect, I like that it's a little bit unfriendly," said Vanney."It becomes you and your team, and us against them.

"And I think that's what it should be about. That's why these rivalries are so special. So I'm not discouraged in any way about having to go there and play a game."

The return leg is June 27 in Toronto.

At stake is the Voyageurs Cup, which Montreal won seven times before joining MLS and twice after. Toronto won five times, including last year. There are also bragging rights, which may be as big a factor as skill or tactics in this matchup.

"I don't really say hate butI know that my focus and attention when the name TFC pops up is very high," said Bernier.

Toronto players remarked this week how much theydespise the goal bell at Saputo Stadium that is rung each time the home team scores.

Both teams want the trophy, especially because it gives the winnerentry intoin the CONCACAF Champions League, although if Montreal wins it will also have to win a one-game playoff in Toronto later this summer due to a scheduling change that deprived TFC of this year's CONCACAF berth.

Toronto is in win-now mode with designated players Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore in their prime, backed by a strong supporting cast, and feel they can go far in CONCACAF. Montreal is eager to get back in after making a run to the final in 2015.

Vanney has lineup decisions to make because his club has a league match Friday night against New England, making for two games in three nights. He confirmed only that Clint Irwin will continue his Canadian Championship run in goal.

The Impact play Saturday in Columbus.

A new rule this season requires teams to start at least three Canadians, which may be all the homegrown talent Montreal coach Mauro Biello has. Forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel is a question mark after a bout of gastro-interitis and forward Ballou Tabla is doubtful with a sore ankle.Louis Beland-Goyette (knee) and David Choiniere (ankle) areout.

That leaves Bernier, defender Wandrille Lefevre and goalie Max Crepeau as the healthy Canadians.

As much as they are rivals, some Impact and TFC players are also teammates on the national squad who were together onlylast weekfor a win over Curacao at Saputo Stadium.

"There was some banter," said Bernier, who wore the captain's armband against Curacao. "Raheem (Edwards), Jonathan (Osorio). Tosaint (Ricketts)wasn't there but I've known him for a while now.

"They're doing very well so Reheem wasn't afraid to talk about his team. For a young player, he's not shy of talking, whichI like because it means he has confidence in himself and that's good for the men's national team. But we're not on the same team now. It's 2017 and whatever we did in 2016 doesn't exist anymore. We have to prove that we're the best team."

With files from Neil Davidson in Toronto

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version misspelled Tosaint Ricketts' name.

Continued here:
Growing rivalry highlighted as TFC visits Impact in Canadian Championship play - GuelphToday

MONTREAL Patrice Bernier goes back 17 years when the topic turns to the Montreal-Toronto soccer rivalry.

For Bernier, the Montreal Impact's loss toToronto FC in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference final last November was merely the latest chapter inthe on-again, off-again battle between Canada's two largest cities.

The next will come Wednesday night when TFC visits Saputo Stadium for the first leg of the two-game Canadian Championship final.

"In the A-League (circa 2000) we played against the Toronto Lynx a lot," said 37-year-old Bernier."I know that there were a lot more Toronto guys ontheir side and a lot more Montreal guys on our side, so there was no love when you played their team.

"I remember them a lot. Adrian Serioux, Lynden Hooper, Marco Reda. Those guys came up with the Lynx. It just carried over for me (in MLS). The name might have changed but TFC or Toronto (Lynx), it's the same for me."

The rivalry wasa natural when Montreal joinedMLS in 2012 (Toronto had already been there since 2007), but it only really took hold when they startedfacing each other in playoff games.TFC's first-ever post-season game was alacklustre 3-0 loss in a first round knockout game in Montreal in 2015.

Last season, it went through the roof as the Impact won the opening match of the two-legged conference final3-2 before 61,004 at Olympic Stadium only to lose5-2 in the return match before a sellout 36,000 at BMO Field, with TFC scoring two goals in extra time in the highest-scoring MLS playoff series ever.

Toronto lost the MLS Cup final to Seattle on penalties, but Greg Vanney's squad is back with a vengeancethis season, leading MLS with a 9-2-5 record. Montreal was slow off the mark but has levelled its record at 4-4-6 and is 2-0-2 in its last four.

"I like that rivalry aspect, I like that it's a little bit unfriendly," said Vanney."It becomes you and your team, and us against them.

"And I think that's what it should be about. That's why these rivalries are so special. So I'm not discouraged in any way about having to go there and play a game."

The return leg is June 27 in Toronto.

At stake is the Voyageurs Cup, which Montreal won seven times before joining MLS and twice after. Toronto won five times, including last year. There are also bragging rights, which may be as big a factor as skill or tactics in this matchup.

"I don't really say hate butI know that my focus and attention when the name TFC pops up is very high," said Bernier.

Toronto players remarked this week how much theydespise the goal bell at Saputo Stadium that is rung each time the home team scores.

Both teams want the trophy, especially because it gives the winnerentry intoin the CONCACAF Champions League, although if Montreal wins it will also have to win a one-game playoff in Toronto later this summer due to a scheduling change that deprived TFC of this year's CONCACAF berth.

Toronto is in win-now mode with designated players Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore in their prime, backed by a strong supporting cast, and feel they can go far in CONCACAF. Montreal is eager to get back in after making a run to the final in 2015.

Vanney has lineup decisions to make because his club has a league match Friday night against New England, making for two games in three nights. He confirmed only that Clint Irwin will continue his Canadian Championship run in goal.

The Impact play Saturday in Columbus.

A new rule this season requires teams to start at least three Canadians, which may be all the homegrown talent Montreal coach Mauro Biello has. Forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel is a question mark after a bout of gastro-interitis and forward Ballou Tabla is doubtful with a sore ankle.Louis Beland-Goyette (knee) and David Choiniere (ankle) areout.

That leaves Bernier, defender Wandrille Lefevre and goalie Max Crepeau as the healthy Canadians.

As much as they are rivals, some Impact and TFC players are also teammates on the national squad who were together onlylast weekfor a win over Curacao at Saputo Stadium.

"There was some banter," said Bernier, who wore the captain's armband against Curacao. "Raheem (Edwards), Jonathan (Osorio). Tosaint (Ricketts)wasn't there but I've known him for a while now.

"They're doing very well so Reheem wasn't afraid to talk about his team. For a young player, he's not shy of talking, whichI like because it means he has confidence in himself and that's good for the men's national team. But we're not on the same team now. It's 2017 and whatever we did in 2016 doesn't exist anymore. We have to prove that we're the best team."

With files from Neil Davidson in Toronto

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version misspelled Tosaint Ricketts' name.

Continued here:
Growing rivalry highlighted as TFC visits Impact in Canadian Championship play - BarrieToday