Brothers to plead not guilty in shooting

COVINGTON - Two brothers who were wanted in a fatal shooting made their initial appearances in Kenton District Court Tuesday morning after being captured in Fort Myers, Fla.

Vincenzo Pasquale Vilardo, 27, is charged with murder in the shooting death of John Evans, 25, of Hamilton. His younger brother, Domenico Vilardo, 22, is charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon.

Evans was fatally shot in the chest in a Locust Street house in Covington earlier this month.

Kenton District Judge Frank Trustee ordered Vincenzo Vilardo held without bond and Domenico Vilardo to be held in lieu of a $5,000 bond.

Their attorney, Fred Johnson, said both intended to plead not guilty.

A preliminary hearing for each man is scheduled for April 6 at the Kenton County Justice Center.

The brothers are the sons of Pasquale Vilardo, who owned and operated several former Newport strip clubs.

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Man sentenced to 5 years in homicide case

COVINGTON - A 25-year-old Covington man was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for fatally shooting another man in August.

San Deaugo Antwan Merriweather, also known as "Blue," was convicted in February of reckless homicide and tampering with evidence for throwing away the gun.

Merriweather said he was protecting himself and his girlfriend when he shot and killed Maurice Thomas in the early morning hours of Aug. 30 in the 1600 block of May Street. Thomas had broken into the apartment and had begun attacking the girlfriend, according to court records.

Prosecutors said Merriweather didn't have to use deadly force.

Rider still critical after horse accident

FLORENCE - An exercise rider remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon after being thrown from a horse earlier in the week.

Clyde Bramble was thrown from the horse Monday morning at Turfway Park. Officials said he was thrown into a rail after a strap broke on the harness.

Campbell judge attends child-protection event

NEWPORT - Family Court Judge D. Michael Foellger, who serves Campbell County, participated in a program funded under the Children's Justice Act and offered by the Kentucky Court of Justice for judges throughout the state.

The conference, titled "Child Protection: Evidentiary, Trial and Dispositional Issues," took place March 7-10 in Lexington.

The conference concentrated on psychological issues in child treatment, managing cases that terminate parental rights, the impact of domestic violence on the psychological development of children, handling child witnesses and the use of technology in child protection cases.

Car crash kills 2 men, closes southbound I-71

GLENCOE - The southbound lanes of Interstate 71 in Gallatin County were closed overnight Monday as emergency crews responded to a fatal wreck.

Two men traveling north in a 1997 Oldsmobile were killed when the driver lost control and crossed the median into the path of a tractor-trailer at 11:30 p.m. Monday, according to Kentucky State Police.

The driver of the car, 29-year-old Abdourahmane Sakho, and 28-year-old passenger Mohamed L. Sylla were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said both men, who lived in Pleasant Ridge, were wearing seat belts.

Neighbors said Sakho moved to Cincinnati with his pregnant wife about six months ago and worked at LSI Industries in Blue Ash. Sylla worked for SSE Manufacturing in Florence.

Both were originally from Senegal.