By Xavier James
Hampton- Two prosecution witnesses gave different accounts of the New Year's Eve shootings at a Hampton skateboard park. One witness even told the court how the police initially let him leave the scene because they said what he saw didnt 'add up to much.' However, Walter Phillips became the prosecution's star witness in this highly sensationalized case.
The altercation, which left two men dead, resulted in the arrest of sixteen- year old, Jordyn Charity, being charged with capital murder. At the preliminary hearing, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Deborah S. Roe found sufficient evidence to move forward on capital murder and first degree murder charges, despite suspect witness testimony.
Brian Kieth Edwards took the stand first saying he witnessed Charity walk into a "group of teens" with a shotgun and started shooting. He further testified that although he was concerned for his own son's safety he never got out of his car. He claims to have heard his son ask Charity not to shoot him, but didn't hear any of the exchanges between 21-year-old Donivan Walker and 20-year-old Kenneth Jake Wilson, who were left dead at the scene. Edwards said he then went and stood over the victims and dialed 911.
"He didn't get out of the car to protect his son. He didn't try CPR or anthing on the victims. That doesn't even sound right. Most parents would've at least got out of the car to protect their child," remarked an observer.
But it was the state's star witness, Walter Phillips, that drew criticism and scorn throughout the courtroom. His animated demeaner and gestures could not be overlooked- even by prosecutor Bell who at times appeared to be directing Phillips' testimony.
" I was 150 feet away, he said.
"You mean 50 yards," corrected Bell.
"Yeah, 50 yards. I can throw a football that far. Then I saw him reload," said Phillips.
"You mean recocked it right?" Corrected bell, demonstrating.
"Yeah, yeah recocked it," repeated Phillips standing up demonstrating as well. "All I saw was body parts flying everywhere."
When asked if he saw the shooter in court, Phillips also stated "I don't know. I don't know if he was black or white, but he had on camoflauge pants." The witness, looking more like a drifter then a golf enthusiast, said he was leaving the adjacent golf course when the incident occurred. Phillips also testfied that he didn't know if the alledged shooter was wearing a hat or not.
"We knew Anton Bell was going to dig up a witness but this guy was seriously over the top," said a family spokesman.
Despite Defense attoney Bob Lawrence's objections to Phillips and Bell's antics, Judge Deborah S. Roe allowed the testimony. However, it was aparent that neither man's eye witness account matched. There were continued descrepencies in the number of shots fired as well as where the shots took place. The two witnesses didn't even agree on how the teen even arrived at the skateboard park that day. According to sources close to the investigation neither witness is mentioned in the case files.
Although the teen is charged with capital murder, federal law prohibits the death penalty.
"Clearly Anton Bell is trying to make a name for himself and his future political aspirations at the expense of this teen," said a community activist. "And what kind of judge would let a guy testify after hearing him say the police let him go home because he really didn't see anything? Judge Roe already had her mind made up as to how she was going to rule. She made good on her previous threats."
After their riviting stories, both witnesses were spotted together outside the courtroom reliving their testimonies.
