Attorney Rebuts Racial Allegations In Dragging Death

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(October 27, 2008)--The attorney for a white Texas man charged in the dragging death of a black man is disputing claims that his client is racist.

Attorney Ben Massar said Monday that his client Shannon Finley is not guilty of a hate crime.

He said reports that Finley purposely ran over and dragged Brandon McClelland, 24, underneath his pickup truck because of McClelland's race are untrue and upsetting to Finley's family.

Massar also said Finley and McClelland had been friends since they were teenagers.

Finley and Charles Crostley, both 27, face murder charges in McClelland's death.

His torn body was found on a rural Texas road on Sept. 16.

McClelland's mother says her son was targeted because he was black and compares his killing to the notorious dragging death of James Byrd 10 years ago in East Texas.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: the truth Location: killeen on Oct 28, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Once again they fail to report the whole story, hum the good ole south at work. The question is will he get more time if he is prosecuted for the crime itself vs. being prosecuted for a hate crime? I think not sure that he would get more time if he is tried for the crime itself not too sure.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 28, 2008 at 06:59 AM
A racist hates being called a racist. It seems as if their intent to kill is never racially motivated. That is the same song and dance that has been going on for years. When a man’s behind is in a sling, he will say anything to clear his name. The unfortunate problem is that we will never know the truth about this so called friendship because the man he called “friend” is dead. He doesn’t want to be classified as a racist, he just like killing black men as part of one of his hobbies. That is a terrible way to try an clear your name!

Posted by: Lola Location: Central Tx on Oct 27, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Ok may not be a racist death, but how was this man dragged, by his friend? ("Finley")..

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