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Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.迷你倉Nov. 15--COLONIAL HEIGHTS -- Murder and murder by mob charges were withdrawn today against a second defendant in the February beating death of Russell "Rusty" Mack after the city's chief prosecutor acknowledged it would be difficult to gain a conviction.Colonial Heights Commonwealth's Attorney William Bray cited last week's acquittal of another defendant, Jonathan Guy, and his consultation with two "experienced prosecutors" in assessing whether there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges against Francis Blaha III. There wasn't, Bray said."There is a wide gap between probable cause and reasonable doubt" for a jury to reach a guilty verdict, Bray said.On Thursday, supporters of Mack demonstrated outside the Colonial Heights Courthouse in a "Justice for Rusty" protest.Blaha's alleged role in the encounter that led to Mack's death was extremely limited and he was regarded as the least culpable of the four young people charged. Blaha allowed one of the other defendants to drive his car to Mack's apartment, where the confrontation occurred, but stood by as the argument between Mack and th儲存 other defendants became physical."We need to concentrate on the persons responsible for Rusty's death," Bray told Colonial Heights Circuit Judge Herbert C. Gill iin asking the judge to nol prosse, or withdraw, the charges against Blaha.Defense attorney John Rockecharlie said his client had "absolutely no culpability" in Mack's death and was 40 feet away from the physical confrontation that resulted in Mack's fatal injuries of Feb. 11. He died 17 days later.Last week, a jury in Henrico County, where Guy's case was tried because of extensive pre-trial publicity, acquitted the 20-year-old of all charges. Bray had argued that Guy was part of a mob assault on Mack that occurred after Mack, drunk and angry, repeatedly harassed Guy, who was seeing Mack's estranged wife, and challenged Guy and other to come to his apartment.Also accused in the case are Margaret Blair Dacey, alleged to have kicked Mack in the head; and Mack's estranged wife, Ashley Mack.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) Visit the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) at .timesdispatch.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesmini storage