Around Southeast Missouri 12/14/06

Poplar Bluff teen found guilty of murder

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A New Madrid County judge took about an hour Friday to find Dustin D. Burrage, 18, guilty of murder in the shooting death of Joseph L. Bartlett, 31, on Aug. 22, 2005. Sentencing is set for 1 p.m. Jan. 23. Burrage said the shooting was an accident and that he had thrown the alleged murder weapon into a mini park afterward. Police did not find the weapon there. Burrage, serving a seven-year sentence for possession of a controlled substance after a probation revocation, testified on his own behalf. "I had a gun. I thought it was on safety," he said. "I tried to hit him with it and the gun went off."

-- Daily American Republic

Dexter man will face jury trial in son's death

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ben E. Handy, 24, will face a jury trial in the court of Butler County Judge Mark. L. Richardson at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 28 and March 1. Judge Stephen L. Sharp denied Handy's request for a change of venue to Cape Girardeau and allowed the change of venue to Butler County. Handy is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of abuse of a child resulting in death. He faces 30 years to life on each of the abuse and murder charges and no limit on both armed criminal action counts. Handy is accused of injuring his 5-month-old son, Devonte Handy, on May 25, 2005, which was later determined to be the cause of the boy's death. According to an affidavit from St. Louis Children's Hospital where Devonte died, the exact event that led to the boy's death was unknown but the cause was a "diffuse brain injury resulting in brain death." The affidavit stated there was evidence of prior trauma including multiple rib fractures, a skull fracture and two healed fractures of the left arm.

-- Sikeston Standard Democrat