Mychal Bell trial

Mychal Bell trial
On June 26, 2007, the first day of trial for defendant Mychal Bell, Walters agreed to reduce the charges for Bell to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second-degree battery.[15] A charge of aggravated battery requires the use of a "deadly weapon". Walters thus argued that the tennis shoes that Bell was wearing and used to kick Barker were deadly weapons, an argument with which the jury agreed. Despite conflicting witness accounts on whether he was involved in the attack,[16] Bell was found guilty and faced the possibility of up to 22 years in prison when he was to be sentenced on September 20, 2007.
The case sparked public outcry, as the court-appointed public defender, Blane Williams — an African-American — did not call a single witness in his attempt to defend Bell.[16] As well, one of the members of the all-white jury was a high school friend of Justin Barker’s father.[17] Bell's new defense attorneys, Louis Scott and Carol Powell-Lexing, requested that a new trial be held on the grounds that Bell should not have been tried as an adult and that the trial should have been held in another parish.[18]
A request to lower Mychal Bell's $90,000 bond was denied on August 24, 2007, due to his juvenile record, which showed that he had been previously convicted of four other violent crimes. Bell was put on probation for a battery that occurred December 25, 2005, and he was later convicted of yet another battery charge and two charges of criminal damage to property.[19]
On September 4, 2007, a judge dismissed the conspiracy charge but let the battery conviction stand, though he agreed that Bell should have been tried as a juvenile.[20] However, on September 14, 2007, Bell's battery conviction was also overturned, as Louisiana's Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles ruled that he shouldn't have been tried as an adult. Louis Scott, Bell's attorney, has indicated that the charges are dropped for now, but also has noted that the situation may change depending on what path the prosecution takes.[21] The La Salle Parish district attorney, Reed Walters, has said that he will appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court.[22]
A new bail hearing for Bell was scheduled for September 17.[22]

The other five
On September 4, 2007, charges against Carwin Jones and Theo Shaw were reduced to aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy,[23] as did Robert Bailey, Jr., on September 10.[24]
Despite the overturning of Mychal Bell's conviction, the charges against the other four teenagers won't be altered because they were over seventeen at the time of the incident, making them adults under Louisiana law.[21]