Newspaper Page Text
MARCH 23 - 29, 2023
www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com
VOL 32 • NO. 39
e CHAMPION
The official legal organ of DeKalb County, EA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Uthonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain.
504
LOCAL
Atlanta VA’s
new program
part of national
initiative to
stop veteran
suicides
PAGE 2
LOCAL
New marker
in Doraville
commemorates
historic Black
neighborhood
PAGE 8
Ethics Board holds special called meeting as
legislator encourages remaining members to resign
BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
The DeKalb County
Ethics Board has named a
new interim chairperson and
is seeking legal counsel after
the resignation of five board
members and the board's
previous lawyer.
The remaining two
members and two alternates
on the DeKalb County
Ethics Board held a special
called meeting on March
13 through Zoom to discuss
their next steps.
"I first want to set the
record straight," said board
member Bill Clark at the
beginning of the meeting.
"Our board rules indicate
that we must have a quorum
present to conduct business.
A quorum for this board is
four members and when
there are absences or
vacancies, the chairperson
of the board shall appoint
alternate board members to
ensure a quorum is present.
But, since our previous
chairperson quit the board
last month, we do not have
a chairperson to appoint
the alternates to full board
status to ensure a quorum."
Clark continued, "We
SEE ETHICS ON PAGE 6
The remaining members of the DeKalb County Ethics Board met on
Zoom to discuss legal needs and name Rosa Waymon as the board’s
new interim chairperson. Photo by Christine Fonville
Independent autopsy shows protester was probably
in a sitting position with hands raised when shot
SPORTS
Five DeKalb
athletes, five
coaches take
top honors
in All Region
Selections
PAGE 12
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BY CHRISTINE FONVILLE
CHRISTINE@DEKALBCHAMP.COM
A second autopsy performed on a
protester who was shot and killed by
police on the site where the Atlanta
Police Training Center is planned,
indicates the protester's hands were
probably raised and he was in a seated
position with legs crossed, according
to lawyers representing their family.
Details from Manuel Teran's
second autopsy were released at
a press conference in downtown
Decatur on March 13. During the press
conference, attorney Brian Spears and
members of Teran's family legal team
spoke about the autopsy and their
work on the case.
The independent autopsy,
commissioned by Teran's family,
found that Teran, who used they/
them pronouns, "was facing multiple
individuals who were firing weapons
at them and, during the course of
being shot, was able to raise their
Details from Manuel Teran’s (pictured) second
autopsy were released by the legal team
representing Teran’s family. Photo provided by
Defend the Atlanta Forest
hands and arms up in front of their
body. Both Manuel's left and right
hands show exit wounds in the palms.
The autopsy further reveals Manuel
was (likely) in a seated position, cross-
legged when killed," stated attorneys.
"The Georgia Bureau of
Investigation (GBI) has repeatedly
declined to meet with us, to talk to
us, or to present any evidence to us,"
said a member of Teran's legal team.
"They have also prevented the release
of information by the city of Atlanta,
which stopped releasing videos of
the incident because the GBI told
them to stop. We have filed a lawsuit
concerning the refusal of the city to
provide records on an ongoing basis."
The attorneys for Teran's family
further stated they had "no choice but
to file a lawsuit" under the Georgia
Open Records Act because, "there is
no investigative justification for the
GBI to continue to withhold evidence."
Teran's family was present during
the press conference and said they
are seeking answers - but so far have
received none.
"I never thought Manuel would
die sitting in a meditation position,"
said Manuel Teran's mother, Belkis
Teran. "I want answers for my child's
homicide. I deserve answers."
A statement posted on the GBI's
SEE AUTOPSY ON PAGE 6
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