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Capital murder trial: Forensics experts testify
By Tom Smith
The Times Daily
TUSCUMBIA — Forensics experts testified Monday the bullets that killed Ki-Jana Freeman were fired by a SKS rifle.
Nicholas Drake, a firearm’s expert with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences said he examined an SKS rifle, along with bullets recovered during the autopsy on Freeman, and shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.
He testified the bullets and the 15 shell casings found at the scene were all fired from the same SKS rifle.
The testimony came as Benjamin Young's capital murder trial continued Monday.
Young, 30, 502 Staunton Ave., Florence, is on trial for capital murder, first-degree assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
He is accused in the March 1, 2016, shooting death of Freeman, 19, of Tuscumbia. Tyler Blythe, who was 17 at the time, was injured in the shooting.
Previous testimony indicated at least 15 bullets were shot into Freeman's Ford Mustang the night he was shot on March 1, 2016, outside Spring Creek Apartments.
Tuscumbia police detective Sgt. Wes Holland testified 15, 7.62-caliber rifle shell casings were collected from the parking lot outside the victim’s car. He said more than a dozen shots hit the car.
During testimony last week, witnesses said the shooting was a gang-related retaliation after a member’s house in Muscle Shoals was broken into and several items taken.
Witnesses identified Thomas Hubbard, Peter Capote, Young, and Riley “Trey” Hamm III as all high-ranking members in the gang. Testimony indicated it was believed Freeman was involved in the burglary of Hubbard’s house on Feb. 28.
Hubbard and Capote have both been charged with capital murder, first-degree assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Hamm is charged with murder and hindering prosecution.
Austin Hammonds and Da’Vonta Bates, two members of the gang, testified last week that Hubbard owned a SKS semiautomatic rifle that fired 7.62-caliber ammunition, a 45-caliber pistol and a .22-caliber revolver.
Dr. Valerie Green, a state medical examiner, testified Monday that Freeman was shot eight times.
She said Freeman died from “multiple” gunshot wounds and the manner of death was “homicide.”
DNA specialist, Angelia Fletcher testified Monday that DNA from Young and Capoe were found on items inside a truck that they were supposed to be in at the time of the shooting,
Fletcher testified that Young’s DNA was found on a soda can inside the truck and Capoe’s was found on a cigarette butt.
Last week, Young’s former girlfriend, Megan Bryant, testified they all had ridden in the truck at times and that Young had drank sodas in the truck.
Courthouse officials said due to sickness of a witness, the trial will not continue until Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Colbert County Circuit Judge Hal Hughston’s courtroom.
http://www.timesdaily.com/news/crime...a0b78f486.html
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