Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Brothers accused in fatal beating
Two brothers are facing a murder charge for the death of a man in a dispute over a parking space, Fort Lauderdale police said.
Alfred West, 56, and David Eugene West, 64, are accused of killing Henry Lee Brown, 48, of Fort Lauderdale, following an argument that began about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday outside a home in the 2300 block of Northwest 14th Street, investigators said.
Brown had parked his vehicle in front of the Wests’ house to mow some lawns in the neighborhood but the Wests had told him on several occasions not to park there, officials said.
As the argument escalated the Wests grabbed baseball bats and Brown armed himself with a machete, police said.
When officers arrived, the two brothers were waiting in front of the house. They were arrested and Brown was taken to Broward Health Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, investigators said.
During their brief court appearances Thursday, Broward Judge Jackie Powell ordered both men held without bond.
Assistant Public Defender Brian Reidy objected — saying there was more to the case than the obvious.
“It appears as though this may give rise to a potential self
defense as I believe the statements given by [the defendants] would indicate this is an ongoing dispute about where the victim would park his car while he was doing lawn work. He would park it in front of the defendants’ house,” he said. “The statement from [the defendants] is that the victim armed himself with a machete.”
Assistant State Attorney Eric Linder countered the men confessed to the crime.
“They left their residence with baseball bats, confronting the victim,” he said. “As they approached the victim he armed himself with a machete. If anyone’s actions were in selfdefense in this situation it is the victim’s.”
Investigators are asking anyone with information about this death to contact Detective Jim Jaggers at 954-828-5534. Anonymous tips can be given to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.