By Janice Morse
Enquirer staff writer

FAIRFIELD - Authorities have charged a teenager with murder in the beating death of Brandon Mitchell, 17. But the suspect's lawyer says his 16-year-old client acted in self-defense.

Clyde Bennett, who represents the Springfield Township youth, claims city police failed to look at all the circumstances that led to the fatal beating Friday night. Police deny that accusation.

"We have confidence in the thoroughness of this investigation," said Fairfield Police Chief Mike Dickey. "Mr. Bennett is a defense attorney. He is doing what defense attorneys do."

The teen, who has a record of violent offenses in Butler and Hamilton counties, is set for a hearing today in Butler County Juvenile Court. Prosecutors are seeking to try him as an adult.

Brandon was beaten behind the 100 block of Danube Drive, in the Fairfield Pointe apartments off South Gilmore Road, about 7 p.m. Friday. By 8:30 p.m., police had arrested the suspect in the same apartment complex.

The house where Brandon lived is about two miles from the spot where he was knocked unconscious. A gray cross, decorated with silk purple roses, the initials, "BPM," and a family photo, marked the spot Wednesday.

Bennett claims that Brandon and his friends made racial slurs to his 16-year-old black client as he walked with a white girl. Then, Bennett says, Brandon and his friends attacked the black teen.

But Brandon's stepfather, Jamie Hilliard, disputes that allegation.

Hilliard said he didn't want to talk much about the incident Wednesday."It's a bad day," he said.

But Hilliard described his stepson as an unprejudiced young man who befriended teens of other backgrounds.

Dickey said "there doesn't appear to be" any racial connotation to Friday's confrontation, but he said there was no way to know what was in the minds of those involved.

Assistant Prosecutor Greg Stephens said: "This was a very aggressive act of violence that was needless, and it happened contrary to the way the defense is portraying it.

"It had nothing to do with race," he said.

The suspect has two pending cases - assault on a police officer and attempted robbery - in Hamilton County Juvenile Court. He has a hearing on those cases Tuesday, court officials said.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com