Woman who was beaten, choked identifies attacker at trial
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A half-dressed, battered and bloody woman emerged from a North Charleston flower shop last spring.
On Wednesday, Beth Ferguson had her moment in court and identified shop worker Lemar "Tommy" Mack as the man who held a knife to her throat, choked her, kicked her face repeatedly and left her bound and gagged in a locked closet.
Ferguson hyperventilated and was in tears as she took the stand.
Mack, 46, whose wife owns Carolina Florist on Ashley Phosphate Road, faces charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and assault and battery with intent to kill. He made no plea because Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson filed a life without parole notice, said Mack's attorney, Beattie Butler. Had Mack pleaded guilty, he would have faced life in prison.
Witnesses testified that Mack worked at the flower shop and lived on the second floor. Ferguson had stopped at the shop April 10 to pick out a corsage for her son's prom. She recounted for the jury the ordeal of the brutal attack by a man who came from upstairs.
"I was screaming, 'Jesus, save me,' " Ferguson said. "I remember thinking, 'I'm not going to live.' "
She described how, after her assailant left, she untied the ropes that bound her and busted out a front window of the business to freedom. Photos showed her cut, bruised and swollen face.
It's not the first time Mack has faced a jury. He was convicted of kidnapping a woman in 1994 from the parking lot of a former Kmart on lower Rivers Avenue. He took her to Columbia, where police rescued the woman the next day and captured Mack. He also was convicted of attacking women in 1979 and 1984.
Mack remains at the Charleston County Detention Center because he cannot make his $3 million bail. The trial continues today.
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postand courier.com.
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Comments
clyoushaete (anonymous) says...
which is where he should have been after the 1994 arrest! I thought kidnapping was automatic life in prison.
March 20, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
What was he doing on the streets after attcking these other women before ???? I hope he rots in there and he gets 3 times what he done to her and he will. The men in prison have no use for child molesters, women beaters and people that hurt old people. So you can bet he will get his if he is not getting it already. I hope he gets it worse than she did
March 20, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lexylady (anonymous) says...
It is unbelieveable that this man was back on the streets after numerous assaults on women. What is up with our SYSTEM, or is there one anymore! The article said his wife owned the store? Did she live upstairs above the store with him? Maybe more will come out about this. I just hope and pray he gets life without possibility of parole. This creep deserves it. What a worthless coward he is.
March 20, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kerry (anonymous) says...
Gee, I hope no one ever "indentifies" me - from the headline it sounds pretty drastic -
Will someone turn on the spell checker please?
March 20, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I'm not sure, but I suspect indentification leaves a pretty good scar on you. How do we get rid of these idiots that keep putting criminals back on the street. It's nuts.
March 20, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carogirl80 (anonymous) says...
I have heard several doctors speak about the "mental illness" of abusers, child molesters, rapist, etc. The so called "demons" that are in their mind are not curable. They can be treated, but NOT cured! So why do we put innocent people in society at risk with these monsters after even ONE attack??? If given the opportunity, they WILL strike again. If it was up to me, I would have a special place where they could all live together far far away from the rest of us!
March 20, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
This beautiful survivor--no longer a victim!--has touched me deeply. She is brave, strong and determined. Her horrifying experience could have happened to your daughter, sister or mother. Imagine, just running an errand and suddenly she's fighting for her life.
Mack will kill a woman if he's not imprisoned for the rest of his life. You can take it to the bank.
March 20, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Two_Sheds (anonymous) says...
Surely his wife knew about his violent history against women, so why was he allowed to hang around the store and come into contact with female customers, especially when she wasn't there?
His hanging around the store was a liability issue for her, if nothing else! I hope his wife is found accountable as well, and guilty of criminal negligence.
March 20, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
That's true. These people do not live like hermits. He probably has a fairly long list of enablers behind him.
March 20, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
groover (anonymous) says...
How is this guy out in society? I feel so bad for this woman because again this state has failed her. Granted we can't prevent things from happening, but when someone who is a repeat offender like this dimwit, SC needs to address it. Lock him up and throw away the key.
March 20, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
29412skeeter (anonymous) says...
How do you spell identify?
March 20, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChasCarolinaGirl (anonymous) says...
Why don't we send this POS to Iraq and just leave him there? That way we can bring our guys home.
Just an idea.
March 20, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Whats_Right08 (anonymous) says...
I does not matter how the guy looks like, but what does matter is how could this happen for again! U know what really messed up is the guy will probley only spend a couple of years in jail get out, and work someplace else where his wife can get him a job. The victiam has more balls then her attacker will ever have. To me she is a PHENOMENAL, and has COURAGE justice system don't let her down!
March 20, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Deborah (anonymous) says...
God Bless this lady. She is a trooper. Thankfully she is alive to tell the story. By the way Two_Sheds I agree with you completely. The owner needs to step up to the plate and accept some responsibility.
March 21, 2008 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
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