NAACP leaders want murder convictions in Powhatan case

State and local NAACP leaders want a Powhatan County judge to set aside involuntary-manslaughter verdicts today in Tahliek Taliaferro's slaying and elevate them to convictions for first-degree murder.

"The Powhatan community, people throughout the commonwealth and even nationwide are outraged at what is perceived as a miscarriage of justice in Powhatan," said King Salim Khalfani, state NAACP executive director.

It was not clear last night what legal mechanism Khalfani would utilize in seeking to elevate the verdicts to murder.

The plea yesterday in a news conference comes as Powhatan Circuit Judge Thomas V. Warren is scheduled this morning to sentence cousins Ethan Parrish, 25, and Joseph L. Parrish Jr., now 18, on involuntary-manslaughter and assault convictions in the fatal shooting of Taliaferro, 18, and the nonfatal shooting of Courtney Jones, then 15.

Joseph Parrish also faces sentencing for an additional firearms conviction.

A motion filed Tuesday by Joseph Parrish's attorney also asks the judge to set aside the younger Parrish's verdict. That motion argues that the verdict is improper and not supported by evidence in the case. The motion argues that the Parrishes were being attacked by a group of six males that included Taliaferro and Jones.

A jury recommended that Ethan Parrish serve 11 years in prison. Joseph Parrish could receive the same sentence, plus additional time for the weapons conviction even though he did not fire a gun he had.

Taliaferro died from a single shot to the head as a car he was in pulled away from the Parrishes after a brief verbal exchange. Jones suffered a wound to his back.

Ethan Parrish fired six shots from a semi-automatic rifle but said at trial that he did not intend to shoot anyone and was reacting to one of the six men pointing what appeared to be a gun at him.

The incident June 24 resulted in charges of first-degree murder against the Parrishes and a female companion, Stephanie C. Reynolds.

Reynolds pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors and is free after having served the 10-month jail sentence imposed.

A Powhatan jury made up of 11 white people and one black man convicted the Parrishes of lesser charges.

The Parrishes and Reynolds are white; Jones is black, as was Taliaferro.

Yesterday, Khalfani criticized Warren for impaneling a jury from Powhatan in the cases, stating that finding an impartial panel there was "virtually impossible."

Powhatan police are bracing for large crowds at the courthouse this morning, where rallies are being planned on the courthouse green.

Taliaferro's family said Sunday that just sentences are impossible because the convictions do not match the seriousness of the crimes committed.

Contact Bill McKelway at (804) 649-6601 or .