Pumping Parties

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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/3474036.htm

Posted on Sat, Jun. 15, 2002

Witnesses recount silicone `pumping'BY CAROLINE J. KEOUGHckeough@...

They were called ''pumping parties,'' where guests paid hundreds of dollars to have syringes of industrial-grade silicone plunged into their breasts, hips and buttocks.

Prosecutors want jurors to hear about those parties when the two men accused of injecting Vera Lawrence at one such gathering go on trial. Lawrence died in March 2001 in a Miramar apartment.

Donnie ''Viva'' Hendrix and Mark Hawkins are accused of unlicensed practice of medicine, manslaughter, and third-degree felony murder.

Police say the pair injected vials of silicone into Lawrence's hips and buttocks. The silicone traveled through the 53-year-old Miami secretary's bloodstream and into her lungs, causing her death.

In Broward Circuit Judge Weinstein' courtroom Friday, three people who said they were customers of Hendrix and Hawkins testified.

''I did it because it was a cheaper way out,'' said , 29, a nurse who said she paid Hendrix and Hawkins for silicone injections. ``I know that's not a good reason, but that's why I did it.''

Attorneys for Hendrix and Hawkins say and other alleged victims shouldn't be allowed to testify because they weren't present in the hours leading up to Lawrence's death.

Their testimony would be prejudicial, said Assistant Public Defender Reres and specially appointed attorney Schwartzreich.

''I would tell [Hendrix]: `I want to look like this. I want this or that a little bigger,'' and she would try to make you look like that,'' said Gamble, of Orlando, a man who said he had the injections and hormone therapy to help him live as a woman. ``[Hendrix] was beautiful. She had a nice body. Everyone wanted a body like hers.''

Hendrix, born a man but living as a woman, had extensive silicone injections to the face, breasts, hips and buttocks.

Hendrix, who had been living as Hawkins' wife, is housed in protective custody at the Broward County Jail.

''I had seen their work, so I was more than comfortable with them,'' said Terrell Belle, who had injections to his breasts, hips and buttocks. ``Viva [Hendrix] said she was a nurse, but I don't know what kind.''

Belle, and Gamble all testified they'd had some shortness of breath or flu-like symptoms after the injections but returned for more.

Each said they were not sure of what exactly Hawkins and Hendrix injected into them or when the injections occurred.

Hawkins and Hendrix traveled from South Carolina, where they lived, to South Florida, where they would set up ''pumping parties'' at friends' homes. Word quickly spread of the ''pumping parties'' through South Florida's transsexual community. Word also reached heterosexual women who wanted injections, the three testified.

''You must have had some professional work done, also, haven't you?'' Reres asked Gamble, who wore a cream-colored blouse and navy blue pantsuit.

''No, no professional work,'' Gamble answered.

''It's held up very well over these years,'' Reres said.

''Thank you,'' Gamble replied with a smile.

Weinstein said he will hear from other witnesses before making a decision on whether jurors should hear from Belle, and Gamble. No date was set. No trial date has been set, either.