Murder suspect sticks tongue out at victim's family in court appearance

Wilmington, NC - A Wilmington man charged with first degree murder made his first court appearance Tuesday.

Antonio Beatty, 21, is charged with first degree murder in the July shooting death of 25-year-old Carlton Whitley, according to WECT. Wilmington Police say several shots were fired following a dispute.

WECT reports Beatty showed no remorse as he stared, smiled and even stuck his tongue out at the victim's family during court.

Whitley’s fiancée, Octavia Bryant said, "I feel like justice needs to be served. He don't care obviously. He showed that his self in court that he don't care, that he don't have no remorse for what he did, and he needs to be charged… He needs to go down for this. This is not right. He took my daughter's father from her. She don't deserve that and then you're going to stick your tongue out at a five-month-old? She is a baby!"

WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather

WECT reports Whitley's sister, Ebony Silman was also upset by what happened in court. "He needs to be dead. He needs the chair," Silman said passionately. "He don't care, he killed a life and don't care," Silman said.

Beatty said in a jailhouse interview he was being taunted and that is why he responded the way he did, according to WECT.

"I mean I'm upset myself, but they ain't have no right to stick their tongue out at me, they ain't have no right to stick their middle finger up at me. F*** y'all, they lucky I didn't do more than that," Beatty said.

Beatty's family apologized for his rude behavior and said they don't know the person who stuck his tongue out to them in the courtroom. Beatty's family says he isn't completely responsible for the murder, according to WECT.

Beatty says he will not plead guilty and says he has two kids and is most hurt that he is losing them. WECT reports Whitley's family plans to be at every court appearance and will do whatever it takes to get the toughest penalty.