Teen Testifies on Alleged Race Beating

Tina Jones, left, listens as Carwin Jones, center, and his father John Jenkins talk in front of the LaSalle Parish Courthouse in Jena, La., Monday, June 25, 2007. Carwin Jones is one of five black students facing attempted second-degree murder charges for beating a white student in December. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) (Bill Haber - AP)

JENA, La. -- A white teenager allegedly beaten by black schoolmates in this small central Louisiana town told a jury Wednesday that he was hit from behind, knocked unconscious and never saw who attacked him.

Justin Barker, 17, testified that he had just come out of his high school gym with his girlfriend walking ahead of him on Dec. 4 when they turned to avoid a group of black students.

"I turned my back and somebody hit me, that's all I remember," Barker said.

Barker testified before an all-white jury in the trial of Mychal Bell, also 17, the first of six black teenagers arrested in the alleged beating. The case drew widespread attention when five of those arrested were charged with attempted murder and conspiracy counts carrying decades of prison time.

The prosecution rested after calling 17 witnesses who provided sometimes conflicting testimony about Bell's alleged involvement in the fight. The defense then rested without presenting any witnesses.

Jurors are expected to get the case Thursday, after closing arguments.

Racial tensions in Jena _ a town of 2,900 with about 350 black residents _ were raised in September when high school students found three nooses hanging from a tree on campus. A black student had sat under the tree, traditionally used by white students as a gathering spot.

Three white students were suspended, but no criminal charges were filed.

The parents of those accused of beating Barker, who was not one of the suspended students, have said the charges were far out of proportion to the crime and the result of racism. Without saying why, the LaSalle Parish district attorney reduced Bell's charges from attempted second-degree murder on Monday.

Bell, who was 16 at the time of the beating, still could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second-degree battery.

Defense attorney Blane Williams said there was a great deal of uncertainty and confusion surrounding the attack on Barker and there were likely some who took part in the attack who were not arrested.

Ten white high school students appeared on the witness stand. Some said Bell was the one who struck Barker, others said they could not identify the person who knocked Barker down but that the attacker wore a green hooded jacket. The last of the 10, Jacob Hooter, said the person who struck Barker wore a red shirt. Hooter said Bell was present, but he did not see Bell hit or kick Barker.

Barker said he had a badly swollen face and temporary blindness in one eye that lasted three weeks. He also said he still suffers recurring headaches since the beating but, under cross-examination, acknowledged that medical tests have found no cause.

He joined fellow juniors at the school's annual class ring ceremony the night he was beaten. "I waited 11 years to go to it. I wasn't going to let that get in my way," he said. But, he said, pain drove him to leave the event early, after getting his ring.

Williams indicated he felt no need to call any witnesses after the state presented its case.

"The state has the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," he said. "My goal is easy: It's to get my client out of jail as soon as possible."

District Attorney Reed Walters has refused to discuss details of the case and it is unclear whether charges against others will be reduced.

(This version CORRECTS spelling of Bell's first name to Mychal).)