Las Vegas Teens Accused in Death of Classmate and Claim Self-defense

Four of the nine teens accused of killing a friend by beating them did not get bail as planned at a court hearing Thursday morning. At first, Judge Nadia Woods of the Las Vegas Justice Court was going to give each suspect a bond. Each suspect was asked to post a $250,000 bond by the state, but the defense lawyers said that wasn't necessary.

Damien Hernandez, Gianni Robinson, Dontral Beaver, and Treavion Randolph are all charged with second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis. Prosecutors say that Lewis was kicked on purpose during a fight on November 1 over stolen goods by a group of teens. The pupil at Rancho High School died from being hit in the head and body, according to the doctor.

Las Vegas Teens Accused in DeathPhoto byreviewjournal

Lawyers for the defendants said that a $250K bail was not fair because different defendants kicked or hit Lewis more or less often, and the bail amount should represent that.

Defense lawyers say the four teens are claiming self-defense because Lewis threw the first punch and one of his friends reportedly had a knife. The prosecutor agreed that Lewis threw the first punch but said that the punch wasn't the reason for the violent attack Lewis received. The judge said that six tapes of the fight would probably be used as proof.

Judge Woods said that the accused would get a written order on bond next week. The teens are in the adult court system, but for their own safety, they are being held in the youth detention system right now. Plus, there are five teens in the case who are waiting to be certified as adults. A tenth "person of interest" is still on the run. There were tears in the hall from Lewis's mother the whole time.

The Source:

8newsnow