Firewood must be banned now

[Pat McGarrity]

Man charged with attempted first-degree murder

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... ee-murder/

By Hank Dudding (Contact)

Originally published 02:57 p.m., April 14, 2008

Updated 02:57 p.m., April 14, 2008

A Memphis man made a brief court appearance today after an attack on a woman with a fireplace log that left her with two broken arms and a head wound.

Randy Parham, 49, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and theft in an incident that occurred Thursday night. He was arrested Saturday.

Parham has a lengthy arrest record, including a conviction for second-degree murder in 1981.

According to a police affidavit:

The victim told police Parham, her ex-boyfriend, came to her home in the 200 block of Washburn to pick up some personal property. When she went upstairs to get his things, he came up behind her and began to beat her with a log from the fireplace.

He threatened to kill her as she pleaded for her life, fending off the attack as best she could but breaking both her arms.

The suspect demanded and got her purse and jewelry, then resumed the beating before taking her car keys and leaving in her Oldsmobile.

The victim stumbled outside to call for help before losing consciousness. She was hospitalized in noncritical condition, but a gash in her head required 22 stitches.

Parham, who is being held on $125,000 bond, is scheduled for another court appearance April 28.