Today's developments

The pretrial was held today in Bartow, FL. The assailants were not required to appear, but two did. April Cooper and Brittany Mayes appeared

The proceeding lasted about five minutes.

Mayes' mother claims that her daughter did not do anything. Brittany Mayes was in fact the person filming the incident most of the time, and the one who said "seventeen seconds left make it good."

A second pretrial hearing has been set for August 26th.

There are reports circulating that Cara Murphy has received offers from the Oprah Winfrey show. Her attorney claims that she has declined such offers so far.

If/when video of today's pretrial becomes available I will add the link(s) to this post.

Video - News Report Channel 2 (Direct Video Link)

Focus: April Nicole Cooper

Charges:
Felony Kidnapping with intent to terrorize and/or cause bodily injury
Misdemeanor battery

Facts:
15-years old (recently turned 15).
Wearing a red t-shirt in the video.
Second-most violent of the assailants.
Slammed the victim's head into a wall.
Has had altercations with the victim's sister, Kelsie.
Hit the victim on at least three separate occasions.
Has past school truancies on record.
Has indications of violent tendencies on an old MySpace profile.
Is/was close friends with Brittany Mayes
Waited in the bedroom for the victim to arrive.

Analysis:
Will get incarcerated, but likely will not go to state prison. The judge will likely send her to an alternate facility or county jail because of her age. Normally, felons are sent to state prison.

Did not appear to want to or intend to imprison the victim like Brittini Hardcastle did. She told the victim to leave after the initial beating on the bed.

Showed a disturbing lack of remorse during her bond hearing, struggling to hold back laughter. This indicates that she does not truly understand what mess she has gotten herself into.

Her main issue with the victim appeared to be alleged pejorative comments made about her on MySpace and other venues.

She appeared to have been set off when Hardcastle said the word "Elmer" after the victim demanded they name a person she copulated with.


Questions:
What caused her obvious anger management issues?
Is this her first time using violence?
Is she young enough to be rehabilitated?
Did she play a role in the planning/conspiracy?

Links:
Her MySpace
Old MySpace #1 (Public)
Old MySpace #2
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