KYW

Gillespie's son Brahim

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(KYW) (PHILADELPHIA) Mar 20, 2002 10:48 am US/Eastern
In an Eyewitness News exclusive, Investigative Reporter Walt Hunter spoke to a father who says he begged a traffic court judge not to send him to jail for fear that his autistic son would be improperly cared for. He says the judge refused resulting in his son's death, the judge claims he was never told of the situation.

Dewey Gillespie admits he deserved the traffic violations totaling in fines over $2,000 but feels the judge was unfair to him. Gillespie told Hunter that the judge refused to work out a payment plan despite the fact that he brought $750 to court and argued that his son would suffer during his incarceration. He also claims that those who had racked up higher charges were set free.

Gillespie had been the sole caretaker for his autistic son Brahim for 18 years and says he was the only person who truly understood Brahim's needs: "Nobody knows his handicap better than me...he still didn't want to hear it."

He told Hunter that he worried everyday about the teen and prayed nightly for his safety: "Bear with me I'll be out pretty soon son. I have a little bit more time to go then I'll be out."

On December 29th, two weeks into his 38-day sentence, Gillespie got a phone call informing him that his son was dead. Officials say the teen died as a result of malnutrition and dehydration in his Frankford home. Brahim had gone from a healthy 130 pounds to 94 pounds.

Police say they are close to arresting at least one, if not two people, in connection with Brahim's death. There is word that the suspects are family members.

On Tuesday, Robert Shafer, the retired Delaware County judge and part-time Philadelphia Traffic Court judge who presided over the case spoke to Hunter off camera. Shafer said he has no recollection of Gillespie telling him anything about having an autistic son, nor does he remember Gillespie begging for leniency.

"I really don't remember anyone begging. I'm not insensitive to people's needs," said the judge adding, "Had he told me that, I would have had him called back in 30 days."

There is no transcript of the trial because there is no official court stenographer for traffic court cases.

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