Wednesday July 7, 1999 From the Channel 4 newsroom, here's today's top story...

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(Bartow, Florida-AP) -- An attorney for a Florida boy accused of killing an eight-year-old neighbor girl says the boy is no monster. Opening statements began today in the trial of Joshua Phillips, who's now 15. He's accused of killing eight-year-old Maddie Clifton, and then stuffing her body under his waterbed. It was seven days before the body was discovered after the boy's mother saw fluid oozing from the bed. The teen is charged with first degree murder. But his attorney told the jury in Bartow that at worst the teen should be charged with manslaughter. The prosecutor called it a case of "brutal first-degree murder." Phillips could get life in prison without parole if convicted.

BARTOW, Fla. (AP) - Nine months after the bludgeoning and
stabbing death of an 8-year-old girl shook a Jacksonville
community, a teen-age neighbor charged with the slaying goes to
trial far from his hometown.
Joshua Phillips, 15, is charged with killing Maddie Clifton on
Nov. 3, 1998 and hiding her body under his waterbed.
His first-degree murder trial has been moved 200 miles to
central Florida from Jacksonville because of intense publicity.

A jury of 12 members and two alternates was picked Tuesday for
the four-to-six day trial in this phosphate mining community of
15,000 more than 40 miles southeast of Tampa. The panel is composed
of 12 men and two women.
The night Maddie disappeared, Joshua grabbed a flashlight and
joined in the search.
For seven days, as hundreds of volunteers scoured the child's
neighborhood, Maddie's body lay stuffed inside the frame of
Joshua's waterbed, right across the street from her home,
authorities said.
Melissa Phillips saw liquid oozing from her son's waterbed,
pulled aside the frame and saw Maddie's feet. She ran outside and
grabbed a police officer patrolling the neighborhood, too horrified
to even tell him what she saw.
Joshua, who was 14 at the time of Maddie's slaying, is being
tried as an adult. Since he is under 16, he cannot be sentenced to
death in Florida, if convicted. He could be sent to prison for life
with no chance of parole.
Joshua, dressed in a suit and tie at the defense table, often
cast his eyes downward during jury selection. At times he seemed to
stare abstractly; other times, his big dark eyes framed by
wire-rimmed glasses seemed fixed as he listened to questions
attorneys asked a pool of 130 prospective jurors.
The youth hung his head as lawyers talked about graphic pictures
of Maddie's decomposed body that would be shown during trial.
"The disturbing nature of the photographs cannot be
overstated," said Joshua's attorney, Richard Nichols.
The prosecutor said the photographs would be needed when the
medical examiner testifies. An autopsy showed Maddie was beaten
over the head and stabbed at least nine times in the chest and
twice in the neck. Detectives recovered a baseball bat and a knife
believed to be the murder weapons.
State Attorney Harry Shorstein asked juror candidates if they
could put sympathy and age aside and return a guilty verdict. All
indicated they could.
Nichols urged jurors to discard first impressions, resist
emotional responses and show courage.
"Do you understand as a juror and as a jury you're not a rubber
stamp?" Nichols asked.
Circuit Judge Charles W. Arnold dismissed 70 of 200 prospective
jurors mainly for medical or personal reasons. He has barred
attorneys, families, witnesses and police from discussing the case.
By PAT LEISNER
Associated Press Writer
(Copyright 1999 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Fred Halstied reported from Maddie Clifton's neighborhood which is also Joshua Phillips neighborhood, a neighborhood that had all of Jacksonville transfixed last November. In the a whole lot of talk about what happened last November or even the upcoming trial.

We talked to a few people who were doing laundry or working in the area to see what they thought and they said they hoped that the trial started quickly so that they can find out what really happened back in November: it is all quiet in this neighborhood now but just 8 months ago emotions were running high and there was an outpouring of grief from the residents on the day that Maddie Clifton's body was found. But with jury selection , it is upsetting because we are going to see everything again, just what 10 months ago so we will see everything all over again and it is upsetting to the whole neighborhood because it is something we did not want to see on TV.

People don't talk much about what happened back in November but they still remember the hundred of volunteers scouring the streets searching desperately for Maddie Clifton. It taught me a lot. It was real heartbreaking because I was really willing to volunteer you know what i'm saying and look for her and everything. Others say their hearts go out for this community and the Phillips' family.

A lot of people have compassion for the little boy because he was so young. Everybody is anxious to find out exactly what happened. Including myself. Just a few moments ago we did speak to Larry Grishom. He was the man that police first suspected of possibly having a hand in all of this. He says that he cannot given reaction because of a gag order on him but he also says that people around here don't talk too much about the up coming trial. Everyone around here is pretty much trying to move on with their lives.

And some residents who live and work in the Clifton's neighborhood say they're anticipating the trial...hoping to learn more details about what really happened. Sandra Lowery\lakewood resident; "a lot of people have compassion for the little boy because he was so young, but everybody's anxious to find out what happened. Including yourself?? Including myself." Joel butler; "I won't watch coverage of the trial, I won't I believe the lord will do his justice and ultimately decision day will come for Joshua Phillips."