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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- May 21, 2019
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Even though the defense says their client was “emotionally coerced,” a DC Superior Court judge denied counsel’s request to suppress a murder defendant’s statement to police,
Kenneth Bellamy is charged with first-degree murder while armed and two gun-related offenses for his alleged role in the shooting of 23-year-old Michael Tyrone Jones on the 300 block of East Capital Street, SE in 2015.
Judge Todd Edelman said Bellamy, 35, was arrested on a warrant for his bodily fluids and that’s when he waived his Miranda rights, which guarantee the right to remain silent, and spoke to police. Apparently, Bellamy told police that he wasn’t involved in Jones’ murder.
Judge Edelman said any distress that Bellamy is alleged to have had wasn’t furthered by the police. Instead, Judge Edelman said, based on a recorded interview, the police were “trying to calm him down,” which can be seen when they brought him water, let him go to the bathroom and make multiple phone calls.
The police “made no effort to take advantage,” Judge Edelman said.
He said that by the time Bellamy waived his rights he was calm. Judge Edelman also said that when the police were reading Bellamy his rights, Bellamy kept cutting in trying to tell his story.
However, the defense said Bellamy was in “extreme distress” when he waived his rights and spoke with police about Jones’ murder. Defense attorney, Jon Norris, said the police were aware of Bellamy’s state and took advantage of the situation.
Norris said Bellamy was crying and said he didn’t want to be alone. Norris also said the police repeatedly left him alone and that Bellamy would rather talk than be left alone.
According to DC Courts, Norris filed the motion to suppress his client’s statement on May 13.
According to court documents, Jones was shot nine times in the laundry room of an apartment building. Witnesses told police they overheard people say that Bellamy shot Jones because Jones stole from his marijuana stash.
Bellamy’s trial is scheduled to begin on May 22 with opening arguments.