Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: TUESDAY, November 22, 1994 TAG: 9411220137 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
James E. Davis IV of Hackley Avenue faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 28, said Betty Jo Anthony, Roanoke's chief assistant commonwealth's attorney.
Davis had been scheduled to be tried Monday, but he decided to plead guilty when the state agreed to charge him with robbery and unlawful wounding instead of robbery and attempted murder.
The robbery and attack took place May 9. At about 6:20 a.m., cab driver Roy G. Correll was dispatched to the 1900 block of Wayne Street Northeast to pick up a man who asked to be driven to an address on Loudon Avenue Northwest, Roanoke police Detective Charles Tinsley testified Monday.
The man, who police say was Davis, asked Correll to change $50. Correll said he did not have that much money and began to drive away with the passenger in the back seat.
Tinsley testified that Davis then reached across the seat and placed his arm around Correll's neck, pulled him into the back seat and stabbed him several times in the chest and side. The cab wrecked in the 1700 block of Wayne Street.
Davis also pleaded guilty to taking Correll's wallet, which contained $20. Correll was treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and released.
Davis still faces an obstruction of justice charge for trying to flee from police, but that case was continued until Dec. 28.
by CNB