Here’s one more “catch up” post. I’m sure y’all remember “part one” of LAST WEEK’S RUNDOWN. Well after 1, comes 2 … right? Anyhow, check it out!
HOT ITEM: JUANITA BYNUM INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC DISPUTE »
IMAGES COURTESY OF TMZ.COM
Televangelist Juanita Bynum was reportedly beaten by her Bishop husband following a dispute in an Atlanta hotel restaurant. Bishop Thomas W. Weeks is charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of terrorist threats against Bynum, according to police spokesman Ronald Campbell. She was apparently attempting to reconcile with her estranged husband at a restaurant in the Renaissance Concourse Hotel last Wednesday when he attacked her in the hotel parking lot.
“She was pretty upset about the incident,” Campbell said. “At this point, she is at an undisclosed location trying to stay away from him. He began to choke her, he pushed her down and started kicking on her and stomping her,” Campbell said. “The bellman of the hotel actually witnessed the incident and pulled Mr. Weeks off of her.”
Wow! . . . We didn’t get to post this last week, so if you’re just now hearing about it, TMZ posted on the 24th that he had TURNED HIMSELF IN. We’ll keep you updated!
ALL 5 PEOPLE WHO HAVEN’T SEEN THE “R KELLY” TAPE WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO »
R KELLY AT “TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET” PREMIERE // PHOTO BY BRIAN ACH FOR WIREIMAGE
With R. Kelly’s child pornography trial less than a month away, prosecutors are saying the veins in his hands will prove that Kelly is indeed the man featured having sex with an under-aged girl in the now infamous videotape. During a pre-trial motion last week prosecutors said they hope to bring in an expert witness who has examined the vein patterns of the man’s hand in the videotape, which they believe is consistent with Kelly’s hand. Defense attorneys scoffed at the tactic, calling it bad science and not as conclusive as using fingerprints. Judge Vincent Gaughan temporarily put off a ruling on the prosecution’s motion to bring in this witness.
The judge also ruled that both the jury and media will be allowed to view the entire 26-minute video that allegedly shows Kelly, among other things, urinating on an under-aged girl. Lawyers for the prosecution apparently asked the judge to reconsider the decision, alleging that it may re-victimize the girl in the video. But judge Gaughan upheld his decision, saying the young woman that prosecutors say is featured on the tape has denied it is her.
HOT ITEM: JOHN SINGLETON INVOLVED IN FATAL SUV ACCIDENT »
JOHN SINGLETON AT “ILLEGAL TENDER” PREMIERE // PHOTO BY JEMAL COUNTESS FOR WIRE IMAGE
Acclaimed “Boyz in the Hood” director John Singleton accidentally struck and killed a woman who suddenly stepped in front of his SUV in south Los Angeles, police said last night. The death of 57-year-old Constance Russell was deemed “a very, very unfortunate accident” and Singleton wasn’t cited for any violation, an LAPD spokesman said. Police said Singleton was behind the wheel of his 2001 Lexus SUV about 8 p.m. Thursday when Russell, who was walking in the street but not the crosswalk, stepped in front of him. The 39-year-old director stopped and waited for police and an ambulance to arrive, the LAPD spokesman said. Investigators said Singleton was neither speeding nor under the influence of drugs or alcohol. [ NY DAILY NEWS ]
POLICE RAID DMX’S HOME AND SEIZE HIS PIT BULLS »
DMX APPEARS ON SUCKER FREE WEEK BACK IN APRIL 2006 // PHOTO BY BRYAN BEDDER FOR GETTY IMAGES
Sheriff’s deputies raided the home of rapper DMX yesterday, seizing several pit bulls allegedly left without food and water and finding the remains of three other dogs. No one was arrested. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office received a tip more than a week ago about dogs being kept in inhumane conditions at the Phoenix-area home, said Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Detectives visited the home, then called one of the rapper’s lawyers and told him that the conditions for the animals needed to be improved or deputies would take action, Arpaio said.
The 36-year-old musician and actor, whose real name is Earl Simmons and who grew up in a group home in Westchester County, was not at home during yesterday’s raid. His lawyer Murray Richman said Simmons hasn’t been in Arizona for at least two months and was “extremely disturbed” to hear the animals were maltreated. Richman said he hadn’t been notified of problems at the property until yesterday. Sheriff’s officials said they had contacted another DMX lawyer. [ NY DAILY NEWS ]
