08-27-2005, 01:54 AM
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<span style='font-family:Times'>I don't think u can view the article; so here it's :
Arrest can't 'take away pain' over slaying
The sense of loss hasn't waned for friends and family of Hindu activist killed at park
By TARA DOOLEY and ROSANNA RUIZ
The arrest of a man in the slaying of Hindu activist Akhil Chopra brought relief, but little comfort, to his friends and co-workers.
"It has brought some relief to some people," said Ramesh Bhutada, president of Star Pipe Products, where Chopra worked. "But it hasn't really taken away the pain that has been caused by the loss of Akhil."
A Crime Stoppers tip led to Wednesday's arrest of Howard Dale "Peanut" Bellamy, 22, who had been sought by authorities for almost a week, police said. Bellamy was arrested without incident in the 10200 block of Fondren, a Houston Police Department spokeswoman said.
He remained in the Harris County Jail on Thursday, charged with capital murder. Bellamy is accused of shooting Chopra to death during a robbery Aug. 11 as the victim meditated in Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Park, in the 4000 block of Eldridge.
Police were alerted when Chopra's credit cards were used to buy gasoline after the slaying. The people using the credit cards were arrested and accused Bellamy of being the one behind Chopra's slaying, police said.
Chopra, 28, arrived in the United States to study in 2001 and a year later landed a job at Star Pipe, where many of his co-workers had come to view the Indian native as family. Colleagues said Chopra frequently went to Fiorenza Park to meditate during his lunch break.
Chopra was involved in national and local Hindu organizations and was one of the organizers of the Janmashtami festival, one of the Hindu community's biggest religious celebrations, being held Saturday at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
"I don't have a vengeance against the person who killed Akhil," Bhutada said. "I really feel sorry for him that he has taken this action. ... He has senselessly killed a man of saintly qualities."
Natalie Duran-Ariz, a credit manager at the company, said she was still emotional about the death of Chopra, whom she called "happy man." She called Bellamy's arrest a sign the justice system was working. "I know the proper thing is to pray for someone like this, but in the grand scheme it is still very emotional for us all," she said.
The arrest is just the beginning of a judicial process that could involve the death penalty if there is a conviction. And that could stir up complex reactions among Chopra's friends.
Vijay Pallod, a friend and co-worker, said Akhil was a nonviolent person who always sought the positive.
"Akhil, I don't think he would ask for the death penalty," Pallod said. "But this is going to be a debate among the community."</span>
<span style='font-family:Times'>I don't think u can view the article; so here it's :
Arrest can't 'take away pain' over slaying
The sense of loss hasn't waned for friends and family of Hindu activist killed at park
By TARA DOOLEY and ROSANNA RUIZ
The arrest of a man in the slaying of Hindu activist Akhil Chopra brought relief, but little comfort, to his friends and co-workers.
"It has brought some relief to some people," said Ramesh Bhutada, president of Star Pipe Products, where Chopra worked. "But it hasn't really taken away the pain that has been caused by the loss of Akhil."
A Crime Stoppers tip led to Wednesday's arrest of Howard Dale "Peanut" Bellamy, 22, who had been sought by authorities for almost a week, police said. Bellamy was arrested without incident in the 10200 block of Fondren, a Houston Police Department spokeswoman said.
He remained in the Harris County Jail on Thursday, charged with capital murder. Bellamy is accused of shooting Chopra to death during a robbery Aug. 11 as the victim meditated in Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Park, in the 4000 block of Eldridge.
Police were alerted when Chopra's credit cards were used to buy gasoline after the slaying. The people using the credit cards were arrested and accused Bellamy of being the one behind Chopra's slaying, police said.
Chopra, 28, arrived in the United States to study in 2001 and a year later landed a job at Star Pipe, where many of his co-workers had come to view the Indian native as family. Colleagues said Chopra frequently went to Fiorenza Park to meditate during his lunch break.
Chopra was involved in national and local Hindu organizations and was one of the organizers of the Janmashtami festival, one of the Hindu community's biggest religious celebrations, being held Saturday at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
"I don't have a vengeance against the person who killed Akhil," Bhutada said. "I really feel sorry for him that he has taken this action. ... He has senselessly killed a man of saintly qualities."
Natalie Duran-Ariz, a credit manager at the company, said she was still emotional about the death of Chopra, whom she called "happy man." She called Bellamy's arrest a sign the justice system was working. "I know the proper thing is to pray for someone like this, but in the grand scheme it is still very emotional for us all," she said.
The arrest is just the beginning of a judicial process that could involve the death penalty if there is a conviction. And that could stir up complex reactions among Chopra's friends.
Vijay Pallod, a friend and co-worker, said Akhil was a nonviolent person who always sought the positive.
"Akhil, I don't think he would ask for the death penalty," Pallod said. "But this is going to be a debate among the community."</span>