Witness Says She Was Coerced Into Giving Prosecution Answers

By Adriana Marroquin , Christopher Sivak [former] - February 23, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A witness who knows the murder defendants from spending time at a trap house where they frequent resumed her testimony Feb. 22 by refuting statements she previously said during the Grand Jury.

Gregory Taylor, 26, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Marquell Cobbs, 21, are six of 10 defendants charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, and other charges regarding a fatal drive-by shooting that resulted in Makiyah’s death. The shooting happened on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018. 

During Wednesday’s hearing, the witness said she was coerced by the prosecution into giving them answers that they wanted to hear.

As a result, the prosecutor played the witness a series of audio clips from a previous Grand Jury testimony where she said she was not coerced or manipulated into giving her testimony at that time. 

The defense also questioned the witness and clarified that she felt that if she did not give answers that the prosecutor was looking for, then she would be charged with perjury or lying under oath.

The defense later questioned the witness about shootings that would occur between Wellington Park and Clay Terrace. 

In the witness’s previous testimony, the witness said the two groups would go to each other’s parking lot and shoot it up. But, during her testimony in trial, she said she just said that to get on the prosecution’s good side. 

The defense later asked the witness if she was involved with drugs. She said she only smokes marjuana. She said she has been under the influence in all of her court testimonies. The witness continued by saying she has problems with her memory as a result of her marijuana use. 

The prosecution also called a police officer with the MPD who explained that he patrols the 7th district, which is the area of Wellington Park. 

The prosecutor displayed different aerial photographs of the Wellington Park area, and the officer described the difference between the two sections between Pomeroy and Elvans Road, NE. 

Michals’ cousin, who allegedly spent time in the Wellington Park area the day of the Makiyah’s murder, said she saw a group of individuals rapping and dancing after the shooting at Clay Terrace. 

However, she said it was not a party and that it was normal to see individuals in that neighborhood come together to listen to music. 

In court, she identified Michals;  Thomas, whom she had a sexual relationship with in the past, and Cobbs. 

To finish the day, the prosecution called a MPD detective who used to patrol the Wellington Park neighborhood a few years ago. He was able to identify individuals by name in images shown to the court by the prosecution; among those identified were all of the defendants. 

Throughout the series of testimonies, counsel raised their voices in frustration over issues regarding numerous objections and the prosecutor’s inability to speak quietly during private conversations.

Trial was scheduled to  resume on Feb. 23.