September 21 Homeless attacks compared May 2 Teen gets 25 years in fatal beating March 24 No plan to pursue leniency for witness in beating death March 23 Teen guilty in homeless man's death Homeless feel betrayed by verdict March 19 Jury to begin deliberations in killing of homeless man March 17 Witness 'not sure' man was at scene of slaying March 16 Teen describes beating death of homeless man in testimony March 14 Guilty plea in homeless death December 10 Suspect: Homeless man beaten to death after fight over money November 28 Marty Bertrand: Paying for pot instead of rent Jeffrey John Hubert: Time slips away on streets Beat on street among Denver's homeless is one of fear, defiance Richard Steinmetz: Wary life among the 'clowns' John Bryant & Katherine Livingston: Manhole cover for a bed Keith Williams: Scars of street life November 26 Free turkey helps police with inquiry November 25 Cops chasing down tips to 'homeless' hot line November 23 Victim respected among homeless Murder suspect, 16, put in adult jail LoDo not paralyzed by murders November 22 Special Mass held for slain transients Homeless shelters fill fast November 21 Homeless seek protection LoDo rebirth disrupts street life rhythms November 20 Homicide hot line gets 100 calls November 19 FBI profilers join hunt in LoDo slayings FBI profilers may help solve murders Death takes many forms for homeless 'We have nothing to be afraid of' November 18 2 more bodies found in LoDo New killings spread fear in homeless November 15 Rookie cops help break case November 12 Three 'mall rats' charged in slaying November 10 3rd beating death suspect arrested November 7 Violence part of everyday routine for those police call 'Mall rats' November 5 Suspects named in beating deaths October 31 Slayings victims not simply 'transients' to their loved ones Men felt lure of streets October 30 $100,000 reward offered in beating deaths October 29 Slayings of transients prompt police scrutiny October 28 Homeless feel increasing fear after 5 killings Police ponder connections in four downtown slayings October 27 Police confirm man was beaten to death October 24 Police investigating death of man in LoDo as homicide October 9 Teen charged in beating of transient October 7 Man investigated in transients' deaths September 30 Beating victim found in river ID'd as 51-year-old transient September 18 Man beaten in LoDo dies September 9 Transients' bodies identified

By Sue Lindsay
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

Denver prosecutors won't seek any special leniency for Thomas Holden, the man who turned state's evidence in the murder trial of a teen who helped beat a homeless man to death.

Holden, 19, still faces up to 30 years in prison because he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, even though the teen he testified against faces only a six-year-sentence on a manslaughter conviction.

In a plea agreement, Holden testified that 16-year-old Christopher Ball was an active participant in Melvin Washington's slaying. In exchange, prosecutors dropped first-degree murder charges against Holden.

Ball was accused of first-degree murder and could have been sentenced to life in prison had he been convicted on that charge.

"The manslaughter conviction in the Ball case has no legal effect on Holden's sentence," said prosecutor Phil Brimmer. "The judge will sentence Mr. Holden on the merits of that case."

Brimmer said the manslaughter conviction also won't affect the trial of Nathan Harrison, 20, who also faces trial for first-degree murder in Washington's death.

Holden's attorney, Frank Moya, was out of town Thursday and couldn't be reached for comment.

Although Holden and Ball are charged in the same case, the facts about their involvement are different.

Ball has denied he was present and didn't talk to police. Holden told police he was present and, although he claimed not to have participated in the beating, admitted he may have "accidentally" stepped on Washington's head, knocking out one of his teeth.

Contact Sue Lindsay at (303) 892-5181 or lindsays@RockyMountainNews.com.

March 24, 2000