Co-conspirator Testifies Against Co-defendants in Murder Trial

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A co-conspirator in a murder trial testified against two co-defendants during a Nov. 2 trial.

James Mayfield, 23, and Robert Moses, 23, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill, conspiracy, and aggravated assault while armed as well as other charges in connection to the murder of 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor on Aug. 10, 2017, at the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenue, NE. This shooting also wounded three bystanders that were standing at the intersection.

During Wednesday’s trial, the prosecution continued their direct examination of the co-conspirator.

Earlier this year, this witness pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection to the same incident. His agreement with the prosecution required him to testify against Mayfield and Moses, who he previously identified to the police as his co-conspirators.

The witness testified that he drove the two defendants to the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenue in a gold Honda Accord.

“I was feeling kinda nervous, kinda had butterflies,” said the witness, describing how he felt while waiting for Mayfield and Moses.

“I heard three to four gunshots,” he said.

Then, the prosecution showed the witness three security footage videos of him shopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods with his daughter after the shooting had occurred.

The prosecution also presented maps of the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenue and asked the witness to identify where he drove and parked the car on the day of the shooting.

Additionally, the witness identified two photos of the .40 and .45 caliber weapons that the co-defendants allegedly owned, as well as identified pictures of the gold Honda Accord the witness was driving.

During the cross-examination, Moses’s defense attorney Steven Kiersh asked the witness how he retrieved the money he used to shop at Dick’s Sporting Goods with his daughter. Kiersh emphasized that the witness does not have a job or a consistent paycheck, saying it “came from your sales of crack cocaine.”

“My circumstances prevented me from working,” the witness responded.

Then, Kiersh referred to the witness’s testimony during his plea bargain. According to Kiersh, the agreement requires the witness to state that Moses committed these crimes.

“If you don’t say that Robert Moses committed these crimes, you don’t get the deal,” Kiersh asked.

“I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t the truth,” the witness responded.

Kiersh also said the witness had not been sentenced yet because the prosecution is waiting for his testimony in this current trial.

“It’s beneficial to you and your children for you to not be locked up,” Kiersh said.

Judge Maribeth Raffinan set the trial to continue on Nov. 3.