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| Ralph Yarl: Man accused of shooting teen on doorstep pleads not guilty | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Mr Lester, 84, was allowed to remain free on bail pending trial | |
| A Kansas City man accused of shooting a teenager on his doorstep has appeared in court to plead not guilty to charges of assault and armed criminal action. | |
| Andrew Lester, 84, allegedly shot Ralph Yarl twice after the black teen knocked on the door of the wrong home while trying to pick up his younger brothers. | |
| Mr Lester does not deny that he opened fire, but his lawyers say that he thought the boy, 16, was a threat. | |
| If convicted, Mr Lester may spend the rest of his life in prison. | |
| Mr Lester slowly entered the Clay County Courthouse on Wednesday with the aid of sheriff deputies and a walking cane. | |
| He pleaded not guilty to the charges and mumbled answers to the judge's questions - at one point appearing to be confused. | |
| He was allowed to remain free on bail pending trial, but was ordered to have his mobile phone monitored and surrender his passport. | |
| He was also banned from accessing guns or going near Ralph's family. | |
| Ralph Yarl is now walking and communicating, his aunt said in an update | Ralph Yarl is now walking and communicating, his aunt said in an update |
| A prosecutor had earlier said there was a racial component to the crime - which Ralph's family also believes - but Mr Lester hasn't been charged with a hate crime. | |
| Meanwhile, a fundraiser for Ralph Yarl has topped $3.2m (£2.5m). | |
| The GoFundMe page, started by his aunt, says the donations will go towards his medical bills and therapy. | The GoFundMe page, started by his aunt, says the donations will go towards his medical bills and therapy. |
| Any further funds will cover his education at Texas A&M University, and a long-awaited trip to West Africa. | Any further funds will cover his education at Texas A&M University, and a long-awaited trip to West Africa. |
| Mr Lester, who is white, has not denied shooting the boy in the head and the arm, telling authorities he believed he was protecting himself from a confrontation. Prosecutors have said that Ralph, who is black, "did not cross the threshold" of Mr Lester's home. | |
| Ralph Yarl: What we know about the Missouri shooting | Ralph Yarl: What we know about the Missouri shooting |
| Can you legally shoot before asking questions? | Can you legally shoot before asking questions? |
| A lawyer for the Yarl family is calling for a federal review of the case. | |
| Police initially detained Mr Lester for questioning and released him without charges, sparking protests in Kansas City. | Police initially detained Mr Lester for questioning and released him without charges, sparking protests in Kansas City. |
| Mr Lester turned himself in to police on Tuesday, and was released after posting 10% of a total $200,000 bail amount. He said in court on Wednesday that he had moved out of his home, which has been the target of vandalism since the shooting. | |
| Doctors who treated Ralph said this week they had no idea how he had survived. | Doctors who treated Ralph said this week they had no idea how he had survived. |
| Lee Merritt, a lawyer for the Yarl family, told the BBC that Ralph was suffering from speech problems and had a long road to recovery. | Lee Merritt, a lawyer for the Yarl family, told the BBC that Ralph was suffering from speech problems and had a long road to recovery. |
| "I think he's an amazing kid," said Mr Merritt, adding that the boy was surprised by all the attention the case had been getting. | "I think he's an amazing kid," said Mr Merritt, adding that the boy was surprised by all the attention the case had been getting. |
| "It's a big deal because the community is tired of their children being victimised and Ralph will make the change," said Mr Merritt. | "It's a big deal because the community is tired of their children being victimised and Ralph will make the change," said Mr Merritt. |
| Watch: Ralph's mother, Cleo Nagbe, speaks to CBS about his injuries | Watch: Ralph's mother, Cleo Nagbe, speaks to CBS about his injuries |
| Watch: Ralph's mother, Cleo Nagbe, speaks to CBS about his injuries | Watch: Ralph's mother, Cleo Nagbe, speaks to CBS about his injuries |
| Ralph's aunt, Faith Spoonmore, said in an update that Ralph was now managing to walk and communicate. | Ralph's aunt, Faith Spoonmore, said in an update that Ralph was now managing to walk and communicate. |
| She has been sharing the outpouring of support with her nephew, reading emails and comments to him. | She has been sharing the outpouring of support with her nephew, reading emails and comments to him. |
| Ms Spoonmore said the wounded 16-year-old had to go to three different homes after being shot, before someone finally helped him. | Ms Spoonmore said the wounded 16-year-old had to go to three different homes after being shot, before someone finally helped him. |
| Staley High School jazz band is holding a benefit concert for Ralph, who plays in the band, on Thursday evening local time. Ticket and refreshment sales will go to the Yarl family or their church. | Staley High School jazz band is holding a benefit concert for Ralph, who plays in the band, on Thursday evening local time. Ticket and refreshment sales will go to the Yarl family or their church. |
| On Tuesday, 1,500 students and staff of the school held a unity walk in support of the teenager. | On Tuesday, 1,500 students and staff of the school held a unity walk in support of the teenager. |
| President Biden, who spoke to Ralph and his family by phone, has invited him to the White House when he's sufficiently recovered. | President Biden, who spoke to Ralph and his family by phone, has invited him to the White House when he's sufficiently recovered. |
| He tweeted: "No parent should have to worry that their kid will be shot after ringing the wrong doorbell. We've got to keep up the fight against gun violence. | He tweeted: "No parent should have to worry that their kid will be shot after ringing the wrong doorbell. We've got to keep up the fight against gun violence. |
| "And Ralph, we'll see you in the Oval once you feel better." | "And Ralph, we'll see you in the Oval once you feel better." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Missouri | Missouri |
| US gun violence | US gun violence |
| United States | United States |