TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Polk Video Beating Case Defendant Has Release Rules Eased

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOSH POLTILOVE of The Tampa Tribune and JENNIFER LEIGH of News Channel 8

Published: June 26, 2008

Updated: 06/26/2008 09:17 am

TAMPA - A Polk County judge has lifted the house arrest requirement for Brittni Hardcastle, one of the teenage girls accused in the videotaped beating of Mulberry teenager Victoria Lindsay.

At a hearing this morning, Hardcastle's attorney asked the judge to let his client attend church and have her house arrest lifted. Prosecutors opposed the request, but Polk County Circuit Judge Keith P. Spoto granted it.

Other pretrial release requirements imposed on Hardcastle – that she adhere to a curfew, not speak to media and not have contact with her co-defendants or Lindsay – remain in place.

The March 30 beating became infamous because the sheriff's office said the teenagers recorded it to post on MySpace and YouTube in retaliation for Lindsay trash-talking them online.

Five teenagers are charged in the case.

Hardcastle was charged with kidnapping, misdemeanor battery and witness tampering.

On the video, Lindsay stands up once Hardcastle stops hitting her and says, "You want me to leave? I'll go home."

A girl in a red T-shirt steps forward and punches her.

"No, you're not leaving," Hardcastle says, shoving Lindsay against a corner by the front door.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT