Man Acquitted In Shooting

Philadelphia Daily News (PA)

Jeffrey Harper, 19, says he wanted to impose “street justice” on the South Philadelphia man who ordered a gunman to shoot him last year.

So Harper said he didn’t mention Edward Stanback’s name at a preliminary hearing for the shooter, Kyle Brown, 19, a few weeks after the crime.”I wanted to settle my business on the street,” Harper told a jury.

Later, he decided to let the court system take care of Stanback, 21, of Mole Street near Wharton.

Stanback was charged with the offense, but by that time, it was too late. He had told too many stories, said defense lawyer Fortunato N. Perri Jr.

After Perri argued that there was more than a reasonable doubt that Stanback took part in the shooting, the jury this week acquitted Stanback of aggravated assault and related charges.

Perri called Harper a liar, pointing out that right after the shooting, he told cops that only one man was involved.

The attorney called Brown as the key defense witness.

Brown, who is serving 61/2 to 15 years for wounding Harper, cleared Stanback.

He testified that he acted alone when he pumped two bullets into Harper’s abdomen on Hicks Street near Dickinson in the early morning of June 27, 1999.

He said he had been having a problem with Harper.

Brown said Stanback, of Mole Street near Wharton, had nothing to do with the shooting.

Harper testified that he was walking down the street when Stanback and Brown approached him and demanded money.

When he said he didn’t have any, he said, Stanback told Brown: “Shoot him! I don’t like him anyway.”

Brown complied, said Harper, who lost a kidney after the attack.

The prosecution argued that Harper had no motive to falsely implicate Stanback in the shooting.

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