Jason Vassell walked into court without handcuffs, while dozens of his supporters packed the courtroom. At a hearing to discuss evidence in the case against him, defense attorneys argued that actions taken by the UMass Police Department and the District Attorney's office have been racially biased.
"Have there been white people who have committed felonies, which are prosecutable and provable, that the prosecution has chosen to ignore? That's exactly what the case is here," says David Hoose.
Vassell is charged with stabbing two men during a racially motivated fight in February of 2008. John Bowes and Jonathan Bosse allegedly broke a window to Vassell's dorm room, and yelled racial slurs at him before the three got into a fight. Bosse has not been charged with any crime, while Bowes faces trial on misdemeanor charges next month. Members of the group "Justice for Jason" say Vassell acted in self-defense, but prosecutors says a twelve minute surveillance video tells a different story.
"The defendant is the only one armed, the defendant is the only one who used deadly force," says Prosecutor Elizabeth Dunphy Farris. "The defendant lunged at both Mr. Bosse and Mr. Bowes before there was any physical altercation."
Vassell is allegedly wearing a mask in the tape and at one point prosecutors say he left the dorm lobby, before returning to repeatedly stab the two men. Despite the description of the video, supporters say their view of Vassell hasn't changed.
"I think we have to wait and see that video to see if her allegations are as accurate as what the defense lawyer may have to say," says Jasmin Torrejon. "I do know that video is silent, so there may have been verbal communication and verbal accusations."
More details are expected at an evidentiary hearing that will be scheduled next month.