Students Pack Courtroom for Phillip Abington Vehicular Homicide Case

by Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News

BATON ROUGE— More than 50 people, mostly teenagers from Central and the surrounding area, packed the courtroom of District Judge Richard Anderson Monday as the judge heard pre-trial motions related to the upcoming trial of James Watts III, who is charged with vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Phillip Abington of Central. Abington, 16, was killed Sept. 9, 2011, as he pulled onto Greenwell Springs Road on his way to perform in a play at

the Baton Rouge Little Theatre.

He was a native of Central and a student at Bethany Christian.

Watts, 31, was reportedly going over 90 miles per hour at the time of the crash and tested positive for blood alcohol over the legal limit.

The young people who packed the courtroom were there with a common message.  One said, “We want to get the message out that it’s not okay to drink and drive, and we don’t want other people to have to endure the heartache we’ve gone through the last 10 months”  Another said they are watching the justice system to be sure that cases like the death of Abington are not swept under the rug and forgotten.

After the hearing, Assistant District Attorney John Russell told the group, which gathered outside, “We will make sure James Watts is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  It won’t bring our friend back, but justice will be served.”

Phillip’s father, Todd Abington, thanked those who came out to support the Abington family and honor Phillips’ memory. He said, “I am overwhelmed and humbled that you all would come out today. I heard it said that all it takes for evil to prevail is that good men do nothing, and today you all did something!”  Motions in the case will be heard Aug. 16, and the trial is set for Dec. 10. The penalty is two to 30 years in prison.

PHOTO: The late Phillip Abington and his family.