Victim's backers dispute verdict

Thursday, August 24, 2006 The victim of the shooting often spouted anti-Semitic and racial slurs. CINCINNATI (AP) — A man who gunned down a community activist just steps from city hall was found guilty Wednesday of voluntary manslaughter, a lesser charge than prosecutors wanted. Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Norbert Nadel, who heard the case without a jury, said there was not enough evidence to support the more serious charge of aggravated murder against Howard Beatty, 52. "The evidence shows that Howard Beatty was provoked by Kabaka Oba into a sudden fit of rage," the judge said. He set sentencing for Sept. 21, and Beatty could face 13 years in prison. Oba, who legally changed his name from Michael Bailey, had a long-running dispute with Beatty, and Oba had a court order to keep Beatty at least 500 feet away. Nadel acquitted Beatty of a charge of violating the protection order. Beatty's attorney, Kenneth Lawson, had urged Nadel to acquit Beatty on all charges or convict him of a lesser offense than aggravated murder or murder. "This was a victory. But this is a sad kind of victory, when you're talking about loss of life," Lawson said. Prosecutor Joseph Deters said he hopes the judge imposes the maximum 13-year sentence. "It was our belief that the killing of Kabaka Oba was an aggravated murder," Deters said. "Two of my best criminal assistants were assigned to the case. The judge has apparently disagreed with our charging decision." Outside the courthouse, supporters of Oba held signs and photos. One sign read, "Howard Beatty is a murderer and must go to jail or hell." Opinions varied Security was tight inside, with the crowd overflowing the courtroom. Knowing that supporters of Oba and of the Beatty family were present, Nadel warned that any outburst would result in arrests. He noted that some witnesses in last month's trial saw Oba as charming and funny, and others called him insulting and obnoxious. "He was a very sweet and gentle man," said Patricia Muhammad, who said she had been a friend for 30 years. "It's a sad day in Cincinnati. It was a heinous verdict. This was just a slap on the hands." Beatty was ordered held without bond until sentencing. Oba was a frequent caller to radio talk shows, and when he spoke at city council meetings or at rallies, he frequently used anti-Semitic and racial slurs. "One of Kabaka Oba's favorite phrases was, 'Killer cops create cop killers,'" said a follower, Kadumah Rasul. Rasul played tapes of Oba's rants outside the courthouse after the verdict, as about 100 people milled and more than a dozen deputy sheriffs stood watch. "He wanted black men to stand up and act like men instead of acting like a boy," Rasul said. Prosecutors had argued that Beatty went gunning for Oba on April 12 and easily found him, sitting in a car with "Kabaka" license plates across the street from city hall, where he knew Oba would have addressed the city council. Beatty shot Oba in the leg, arm and chest, and Oba died three days later at a hospital. Defense lawyers didn't dispute that Beatty shot Oba but argued that the killing was not planned.