Testimony began today in the trial of one of two men charged in an armed exchange that ended with two people dead.
Jalil Miles, 18, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, accused of being one of the shooters in a March 26, 2010, dispute that began with a chance encounter between two groups on Hulett Street and ended in the deaths of Alphanzo Pittman and Virgil Terry, alleged members of rival gangs.
In opening statements today, prosecutor Tracey Brunecz told the jury an argument escalated until Miles and Michael Capers, 18, and perhaps Terry and his younger brother, Dashaun, opened fire. In the ensuing chaos, Pittman, 17, a member of the opposing group, is hit twice and later dies.
Virgil Terry is also wounded, hit in the chest by friendly fire, prosecutors allege, and soon dies.
There is no evidence anyone on Pittman’s side was armed or fired, Brunecz said.
In his own opening statement, Miles’ defense attorney, Michael Horan, argued that there is no hard forensic proof against Miles. There’s no gun, no DNA no fingerprints. No bullets were recovered.
Witness testimony will also conflict with the prosecution’s theory, police reports and other witnesses, Horan told the jury. Several witnesses, Horan argued, have had their testimony “purchased” by prosecutors, making deals to lessen their sentences. He didn’t identify the witnesses.
Capers, 18, also faces charges in the deaths and is to be tried separately. Dashaun Terry, who is on the prosecution’s witness list, was also charged with second-degree murder. That status of his case, though, cannot be determined, as last week’s proceedings in the matter were sealed.
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