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An Orangeburg family said Monday the bond amount set on one of two men charged with killing their loved one suits them -- the issue rests in God’s hands.
“It is a sad occasion, it is a sad occasion for everybody,” said Sherry Gadson, sister to Michael Williams, the 44-year-old Orangeburg man who died after being beaten with a brick New Year’s eve.
“We took a loss and they’re about to take a loss,” she said.
Marquel Bailey, 19, of 990 Chester St., sought bond on Monday. Along with a co-defendant, Bailey is charged with murder in connection with Williams’ death.
“I will set bond at $250,000 and you are to have no contact with the victim’s family,” said Circuit Court Judge Kristi Harrington. “Based upon the seriousness of this offense, you will be subject to house arrest with electronic monitoring.”
Bailey’s court-appointed attorney, Jay Jackson, had asked for bond in the neighborhood of $50,000 to $60,000.
Jackson said while Bailey admitted he was involved, Bailey said the victim initiated contact in what Jackson described in court as a “mutual combat situation.”
Prosecutors allege that on Dec. 31, Bailey and 17-year-old Roderick Jamel Wannamaker of 785 Banashee Circle, Orangeburg, went to a Gregg Street residence where they bludgeoned Williams with a cinder block during a fight.
“A stone brick was used to hit the victim,” said Charlie Johnson, assistant solicitor with the First Circuit Solicitor’s Office. “As a result, the victim did not die and survived several days.”
Law enforcement was called to the scene at about 11:45 p.m. When they arrived, they found Williams in a pool of blood in a woman’s front yard.
EMS “tried to revive the victim but was unsuccessful,” according to an Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
Two males were located in an abandoned residence next to the woman’s home.
Initially, Bailey and Wannamaker were charged with assault and battery with intent to kill in connection with Williams’ injuries.
Williams turned 44 in the hospital on Jan. 8. He died three days later, having never regained consciousness. The charges against Bailey and Wannamaker were then upgraded to murder.
Wannamaker is expected to make an appearance in court later this week for a bond hearing.
“It’s a tragic situation,” Jackson said. “Mr. Bailey admits there was a fight and he cooperated with police.”
Meantime, Williams’ family says they’re still having a difficult time dealing with the loss of the loved one who enjoyed life and his family.
“We’re still troubled by the fact that he isn’t here,” Gadson said. “I’m OK with the $250,000 bond. I prayed about it. I rest it in the hands of God.”
T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516.