Description: David Boeri reports that Mayor Ray Flynn is considering a curfew for teenagers in the city of Boston, in the wake of the murder of Kimberly Ray Harbor on Franklin Field. Review of the details of Harbor's murder and scenes of the murder suspects entering a courtroom. Boeri notes that the curfew would prohibit teenagers from being on the streets after 11:00 pm on weeknights and after 12:00 am on weekends. Interview with a group of pre-adolescent African American boys about the curfew. The boys are playing basketball on an outdoor court. They discuss gang activity and violence in their neighborhood, and say that the curfew is a good idea because it will protect people from violence on the streets. Boeri notes that many teenagers declined to be interviewed for the report.
1:00:11: Visual: Shots of a color photo of Kimberly Ray Harbor (murder victim); of a group of police and city officials gathered on Franklin Field. Shot of a Boston Herald newspaper with a headline reading, "Eight teens charged in brutal 'wilding' murder." David Boeri reports that Kimberly Ray Harbor was murdered on Franklin Field in Dorchester on the evening of October 31, 1990. Boeri notes that Harbor was robbed, raped, cut, and stabbed over 100 times. Boeri reports that the suspects are teenagers and gang members; that five of them are under the age of sixteen. V: Shot of three teenagers entering a courtroom. Shot of a group of teenagers playing street hockey outside of a housing development. Boeri reports that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) is considering a curfew for teenagers in Boston. Boeri reports that the curfew would prohibit teenagers from being on the streets after 11:00 pm on weeknights and after 12:00 am on weekends. V: Shots of a group of African American kids playing basketball on an outdoor court near the Franklin Field Housing Project. Boeri notes that many teenagers declined to be interviewed for this report. V: Footage of Boeri interviewing a group of pre-adolescent African American kids. Boeri asks them about the problems in their neighborhood. The kids answer as a group. They talk about fights between gangs, vandalism, and violence. Boeri reports that the kids are afraid of gang members; that the kids go home early each night. V: Footage of Boeri interviewing the kids. Boeri asks how many teenagers in the neighborhood are gang members. The kids answer as a group. The kids says that most of the teenagers belong to gangs. Boeri reports that the kids told him that teenagers are asked to join gangs at age sixteen; that gangs sometimes recruit teenagers under the age of sixteen. Boeri reports that the kids he spoke to were around the age of thirteen. Boeri notes that the group of kids liked the idea of a curfew. V: Footage of Boeri talking to the kids. One of the boys says that a curfew is a good idea. Boeri asks if people get into trouble if the stay out too late. The boy says yes. Another boy says that gang members will shoot you for no reason if you walk by them at night. The boy says that the gang members will think that you belong to another gang. Boeri asks them if they will obey the curfew in three or four years. One of the boys says yes. Another boy says that he will be out playing basketball; that he and his friends will mind their own business. Shots of the boys playing basketball. Boeri notes that it is a short distance from the basketball court to the street corner; that it is a short distance from safety to trouble. Boeri reports that proponents of the curfew are trying to protect younger children from the violence of the streets.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/21/1990
Description: Sen. William Keating sponsors bill enabling juvenile murderers to be tried as adults. Gov. Dukakis and relatives of murder victims express their support.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/29/1990
Description: Christy George interviews Dorchester residents about the William Atkinson murder case. Reverend David Venator (United Church of Christ) says that the state could have filed more charges against the defendants; that violations of the civil rights of minorities have become commonplace. Venator says that the Dorchester community needs to deal with the racial prejudice which provoked the death of William Atkinson (Boston resident). Christy George (WGBH reporter) comments that Venator has condemned racial prejudice more severely than Francine Atkinson (William Atkinson's sister). Venator says that he can condemn racial prejudice because he is white; that he does not condone any kind of violence. Venator says that the Atkinson case is an example of a civil rights violation; that he has never experienced racial violence to that degree as a white man. A white male Dorchester resident says that Atkinson's death was not an isolated incident. The man notes that the Dorchester community has reacted strongly and quickly against Atkinson's death. The man says that the Dorchester community intends to see justice done in this case. George asks a white female Dorchester resident if she thinks that the media attention given to the Atkinson case helped bring about a more thorough investigation and the filing of stronger charges. The woman says that the media coverage is a result of the strong reaction against Atkinson's death by members of the Dorchester community. George comments that many white Dorchester residents are supporting the cause of William Atkinson. The woman says that Dorchester residents of all races are working together to fight racial violence and to make Dorchester a safer community. The tape includes footage of court proceedings in Suffolk Superior Court. George Hurd (Judge, Suffolk Superior Court) presides over the courtroom. The lawyers for the defendants identify themselves. The five defendants each plead not guilty to the charges against them. The charges are read out loud. John Kiernan (Assistant District Attorney) makes bail recommendations for the five defendants
0:00:32: Visual: Reverend David Venator (United Church of Christ) says that the state could have filed more charges against the defendants; that violations of the civil rights of minorities have become commonplace; that these violations are not always committed by the same individuals. Venator says that communities must face up to the disease of racial prejudice; that the Dorchester community needs to deal with the racial prejudice which provoked the death of William Atkinson (victim). Christy George (WGBH reporter) comments that Venator has condemned racial prejudice more severely than Francine Atkinson (William Atkinson's sister). Venator says that he can condemn racial prejudice because he is white; that he does not condone any kind of violence. Venator says that the Atkinson case is an example of a civil rights violation; that he has never experienced racial violence to that degree as a white man. A white male Dorchester resident says that Atkinson's death was not an isolated incident. The man wonders if there would have been arrests made in the case if the Dorchester community had not reacted strongly and quickly against Atkinson's death. The man says that the Dorchester community intends to see justice done in this case; that there has been harassment of some individuals involved in the Atkinson case. The man says that he hopes this case will call attention to the need for reform of the legal system. George asks a female Dorchester resident if she thinks that the media attention given to the Atkinson case helped bring about a more thorough investigation and the filing of stronger charges. The woman says that the media coverage is a result of the strong reaction against Atkinson's death by members of the Dorchester community. The woman says that members of the community want to see justice done in the Atkinson case. George comments that many white Dorchester residents are supporting the cause of William Atkinson. The woman says that Dorchester residents of all races are working together to fight racial violence and to make Dorchester a safer community. 0:07:06: V: Reporters and bystanders stand in a lobby. 0:07:13: V: Court proceedings in Suffolk Superior Court. Shots of Judge George Hurd (Suffolk Superior Court), the audience and the crowded courtroom. Hurd rules on a motion. 0:08:42: V: Court proceedings in the arraignments of Francis Devin, William Joyce, Paul MacGregor, Michael Nowacki and Edward Tuffo in the William Atkinson case. Hurd listens as the bailiff reads the names of the defendants. John Kiernan (Assistant District Attorney) speaks to the judge. Neil Connolly (attorney for MacGregor and Tuffo), Odin Anderson (attorney for Nowacki), Pamela Hattern (attorney for Devin) and George Donovan (attorney for Joyce) approach the podium to identify themselves. Audio is muffled. Devin, Joyce, MacGregor, Nowacki and Tuffo can be seen standing in the courtroom behind the lawyers. 0:11:06: V: MacGregor steps up to the microphone and pleads not guilty to five indictments. Nowacki steps up to the microphone and pleads not guilty to four indictments. Tuffo steps up to the microphone and pleads not guilty to four indictments. Devin steps up to the microphone and pleads not guilty to four indictments. Joyce steps up to the microphone and pleads not guilty to four indictments. Shot of all five defendants standing up in the courtroom. Kiernan makes bail recommendations for the defendants. Kiernan notes that Joyce is serving a suspended sentence for an incident in April of 1981. Donovan steps up to the microphone to confirm Kiernan's facts about Joyce. Kiernan makes recommendations on Joyce's bail.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/31/1982