Attorney says Broussard is 'innocent'
in Chauncey Bailey homicide

By Jeff Shuttleworth

August 16, 2007

The attorney for the man accused of murdering journalist Chauncey Bailey two weeks ago claimed today that his client is innocent and was ordered by a Your Black Muslim Bakery associate, in the presence of Oakland police, to take the fall for the shooting incident.

After a brief court hearing for DeVaughndre Broussard, 19, a handyman at the bakery, defense attorney LeRue Grimm told reporters he was "astonished" when Broussard told him in a jailhouse interview Wednesday night that police were present when another bakery associate told him to take the blame for the shooting.

Grimm, who officially entered the case today, said Broussard "could be completely innocent" based on the limited information he has on the case at this time.

Grimm said he knows the name of the person whom Broussard says ordered him to take the fall but declined to identify anyone.

Grimm said Broussard "feels betrayed" by his bakery associates and he's concerned about his client's safety in jail, where he's being held without bail.

Oakland police spokesman Roland Holmgren wasn't immediately available to respond to Grimm's comment.

Bailey, 57, was shot multiple times on 14th Street near Alice Street shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 2 as he was walking from his home near Lake Merritt to his job as editor of the Oakland Post several blocks away at 405 14th St.

Oakland police say Broussard told them that he murdered Bailey because he didn't like stories Bailey had written and researched about the bakery.

Assistant Police Chief Howard Jordan said the day after the shooting incident that police believe bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV, 21, was involved in some fashion.

But Bey hasn't been charged and Broussard is the only defendant in the case.

However, Bey is in custody without bail on kidnapping and real estate fraud charges.

Copyright © 2007 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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