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Appeals court to rehear case of UO student's death
The conviction of Darrell Sky Walker has been called 'an example of racial discrimination'
by Jill Kimball | News Reporter
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Early in the morning on June 10, 2005, University senior Phillip Gillins was walking west down East 13th Avenue with his friends after a night at Taylor's Bar and Grille when a man pushed his way through them and continued walking. According to witnesses, Gillins made a racial remark to the man, even though both were white. Walker, a black man, overheard Gillins' remark while walking down East 13th Avenue with two of his friends. According to a June 2006 article in The Register-Guard, Walker claimed he took off his shirt in anticipation of a fight.
One racial comment soon turned into a three-on-three brawl in which Gillins, who was supposed to graduate with a degree from the School of Journalism and Communication the next day, took a blow to the head and fell on the ground in an alley between Hodgepodge and the former site of Blue Moon Trading Company on East 13th Avenue. Two days later, Gillins was pronounced dead.
Some witnesses claimed they saw Bryan "J.D." Beall, another man involved in the fight, punch Gillins and heard him later boast about throwing the fatal punch. Others said they were sure Walker did it.
In April 2006 the jury of a week-long case found Walker, then 23, of Orange County, Calif., guilty of two counts of felony assault and one count of manslaughter. He was sentenced to six years and three months in prison, which he is currently serving.
Ted Vosk, Walker's attorney, said that witness Ryan Joyce, who "has made it clear that Darrell did not strike Phillip," could have testified against Beall had he been at Walker's trial.
"Affidavits, and statements by a friend of Joyce's indicate that Joyce purposefully disappeared so that he could not be called as a witness," Vosk said in an e-mail. "According to these witnesses, Joyce disappeared for two reasons. First, to protect the true killer who was his best friend. Second, because the true killer's attorney advised him that he would be thrown in jail if he testified, labeled a rat and taken care of."
Many believed Walker's arrest was a case of racial discrimination. In a Sept. 30 rally intended to promote civil rights and racial unity, speakers used Walker's case as an example of the racial discrimination the black community still faces in Oregon. Among the rally's attendees was Alesia Williams, Walker's mother.
"There is a guilty man walking around Eugene ... polluting the streets with drugs, bragging, and is going to get away with murder," Williams said in an e-mail to Gregory Foote, the judge who presided over Walker's trial. "Where is the justice?"
Walker's next court date is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, at the appeals court in Salem.
jkimball@dailyemerald.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 10
Roberto
posted 3/04/08 @ 10:29 AM PST
Is it crazy to think that the blame should be shared between those who were responsible, and not just the guy who dealt the "final" blow? They should both take the heat, and it should probably be a bit more than 6 months. (Continued…)
Me
posted 3/04/08 @ 3:09 PM PST
i do not believe that a person who did not actually kill someone should be held under penalty of "manslaughter". yes, they should probably face charges, but of "assault" or some lesser charge. (Continued…)
It's Called Responsibility!
posted 3/09/08 @ 8:24 PM PST
Is it too much to ask for someone to take responsibility for their actions? Take responsibility for the fact that your actions and participation helped lead to the death aka LOSS OF LIFE FOREVER of another human being. (Continued…)
Jo
posted 3/10/08 @ 10:55 AM PST
He has named the others involved. If you read the story, you'll see that he has named the man he says threw the fatal punch, as well as another witness who never testified at trial but who Walker says knew what really happened. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 3/11/08 @ 11:28 AM PST
Right... Walker is black, therefore he's automatically the target of racial discrimination, and there's no chance he actually did it. Christ, he was convicted in a court of law. (Continued…)
Ted Vosk
posted 3/28/08 @ 7:13 AM PST
Darryl has never sought to avoid responsibility. In fact, he plead guilty to assault for his part in the fight that occurred that evenning. To be clear, it was not a 3-on-1 incident. (Continued…)
shannan french
posted 3/29/08 @ 1:59 PM PST
i am confused. is this the colleges 24hr news line, then why was matthew hagen death not in ur news letter or anything to be found about it
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