Judge denies motion to reduce the $750,000 bond for the suspect in ex-Superintendent Jim Burns slaying

Despite pleas from friends and family and assurances the suspect would show up for trial, Superior Court Judge Frank Jordan today refused to reduce the $750,000 bond he set in June for the man accused of killing then-Muscogee School Superintendent Jim Burns in 1992.

Among those testifying during an 80-minute hearing on the murder case against Kareem Lane were Gerald Worrall II, an Alabama attorney who offered to draw $100,000 from his savings to help Lane get out of jail, and Andrea Burns Butler, the late superintendent’s daughter, who said her family has waited 18 years for justice and fears Lane will flee if he’s released on a lower bond.

Also testifying were representatives of the NAACP, who questioned whether Lane is being treated unfairly because he’s black and Burns was white.

Defense attorney Stacey Jackson had a string of witnesses testify that Lane was a kind, hardworking ex-Marine who loved to play soccer and chess, and he posed no danger to others nor any risk of fleeing justice.

“He’s never caused our family any problems,” said a cousin, Patricia Boynton of Atlanta, who said she’s known Lane all his life and can’t believe he’s guilty of killing someone. “He’s not that kind of person,” she said.

On cross examination, prosecutor LaRae Moore asked Lane’s character witnesses whether Lane ever told them he was a suspect in a homicide.

“No,” answered Worrall, of Anniston, Ala., “and I find that curious because I am an attorney.” Other witnesses also said Lane never told them about his being questioned in the Burns’ case.

Moore repeatedly brought up two traffic violations for which Lane did not show up for court, one in Louisiana in 2003 and another in Douglasville, Ga., in 2008. Defense witnesses said they were unaware of those cases, too.

Marcus Hunter, head of the local NAACP chapter, told the court that “black-on-black” crimes don’t result in bonds as high as Lane’s and asked, “Is it because the deceased is white?”

Ed DuBose, the state chapter president, noted that Lane is presumed innocent until proved guilty and should be treated as such, but couldn’t answer definitively when Moore asked whether he was saying all suspects should be released from jail while awaiting trial. “It’s not that clear cut,” he said.

Burns’ daughter said prosecutors have not given the family any time frame for when the case might go to trial. The thought that Lane might flee if released “scares us every day,” she said. The family also would like the case wrapped up, she said. “That’s all we want, is a trial,” she said.

In denying Jackson’s motion for a bond reduction, Jordan said he was concerned about the seriousness of the charge against Lane and the instances in which he previously failed to show up for court. He urged prosecutors to “expedite” the case.