Homicide Co-Defendant Says He lied Under Oath 

By Zakiyia Ortiz [former] - November 17, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During a Nov. 16 hearing, one of three men convicted for the murder of a 17-year-old girl took the stand to testify that he previously lied under a God-given oath because he didn’t know God then.

James Mayfield, 23, and Robert Moses, 23, are charged with 13 and 25 counts respectively, including first-degree murder, drive-by or random shooting, assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery while armed, and conspiracy among others in connection with the Aug. 10, 2017, shooting, at the intersection of Saratoga and Montana Avenues, NE, that killed 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor. 

Phillip McDaniel, 26, an accomplice who was arrested and charged in 2017 for his involvement in Sydnor’s murder, signed a plea deal to lessen his sentence to second-degree murder. This deal included his testimony against Moses and Mayfield. 

According to court documents, the shooting was connected to a feud between a crew from the Saratoga neighborhood and the defendants’ crew from the Langdon Park neighborhood— Sydnor was not connected with either.

The prosecutor opened court on Wednesday with transcripts that recorded a conversation between Defense Attorney Steven Kiersh and McDaniel. 

The conversation was consistent with McDaniel repeatedly indicating he played a role in the murder as the driver but denied actually committing the crime because he didn’t pull the trigger. 

Defense attorney Veronice Holt countered the prosecutor’s argument, saying the transcripts were “extremely prejudicial” because McDaniel never agreed to the prosecutor’s set of facts about him being an active shooter. He said he was the driver and Mayfield told him where to park, she said.

The prosecutor wanted DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan to know that McDaniel signed a plea deal for second-degree murder and that just because he didn’t pull the trigger doesn’t excuse his actions in committing the murder.

Holt withdrew her argument after Judge Raffinan agreed to the set of facts from McDaniels accepting the plea he was given. 

Holt was the first to cross-examine McDaniel about his phone and the day of his initial arrest on Aug. 10, 2017.

More exhibits were displayed, including a video of McDaniel’s interview conducted on the day of his arrest. McDaniel was seen pulling the fire alarm three times and placing his hand in his private area looking for Zanacs.

“I was in a space I wasn’t use to,” McDaniels said. “I was afraid of the situation.”

McDaniel was questioned about what motivated him to be a part of the Aug. 10 shooting.

He deflected the question but, after a while, indicated that after being shot at the day before by crew members from the Saratoga neighborhood.

“I was going to do whatever it took,” he said referring to him plotting his revenge on that corner. 

Holt asked him to confirm if he was a liar, and he said he lied before but wouldn’t say he is a liar.

McDaniel was then shown a video of him talking to a detective. In the video, he said, “I was tricked into doing something I didn’t know what they were going to do. I swear on the right hand of God.”

McDaniel said he “didn’t know God back then.” He proceeded to tell the jury that he sold and did drugs, which were the cause of his actions. He made three sales before, during, and after the shooting, he said. The prosecutor began her redirect to the jury regarding McDaniel siding with them in account of his actions. 

McDaniel’s testimony allowed him to be moved from the Central Detention Facility to Correctional Treatment Facility at the DC Jail as a result of his assault for being a “snitch or rat.”

According to McDaniel’s child’s mother, the day McDaniel got arrested she called James Mayfield for money to be able to speak to McDaniel. 

Holt mentioned that she was given $55,000 to testify and give the police access to Mayfield and Moses’ Instagram accounts, which she confirmed. 

The prosecutor and the defense were asked to approach after Holt mentioned the amount of money she was given. The prosecutors confirmed it was not given to her directly but accommodated her move and living expenses.

The next witness said she heard the gunshots and saw two men running towards a gold Honda.

According to the witness, she was about to walk her dog when the shots went off, and she looked out the window to see what happened. She said she then saw two men and told the detectives where she saw them. 

“I seen the men and only knew skin tone and what was on them when I seen them running,” the witness said.

The trial is scheduled to resume on Nov. 17.