Jury to Continue Monday in West Bloomfield Stabbing Death

PONTIAC — An Oakland County Circuit Court jury went into deliberations Friday morning to decide the fate of Walled Lake teenager Leonard White, who faces an open charge of murder in in June.

White, who was 15 at the time of the June 4 stabbing incident which took the life of Johnathan Rickman, 17, of West Bloomfield, after two years of bullying and being beaten up that day.

Closing arguments were made Friday before jurors left to decide on an open charge of murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. The jury remained in deliberations for six hours Friday and was asked to return Monday morning.

"Being really, really mad for being beaten up — that's not enough motive to try and kill someone," defense attorney Rowland Short said to the jury.

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The stabbing occurred on Rafford Lane in West Bloomfield last summer after Rickman, who stood several inches taller and 200 pounds heavier than White, allegedly punched White several times in the company of other boys at another teen's house.

White testified Thursday that he picked up a kitchen knife out of fear and chased Rickman outside, where the fight continued. Rickman died of a single stab wound to the abdomen up through to the heart. The stabbing took place after a sequence of events, according to White's testimony.

"Mr. White wanted this conflict, but he lost the fight," Oakland County assistant prosecutor Jeff Hall said to the jury. "(There is) no compassion for the fact that he took the life of someone else."

If White is convicted, he could be sentenced as an adult or juvenile, or could receive a "blended" sentence at the discretion of Judge Wendy Potts, who is presiding.