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This morning the #KeithDavisJr trial opened with a defense motion for acquittal, which was denied as is typically the case.
The defense then called Det. Veney. State objected to a question about Veney not having been called by the state despite having been in the courtroom all week. That was sustained.
Veney initially testified he did not know when the medic arrived on the scene of Kevin Jones’ murder, when the medic left, or when the medic pronounced Mr. Jones dead. He also did not personally render aid or check for signs of life.
When asked if he brought his notes with him to refer to, he said “some notes.” He later referred to his notes and testified he arrived at 5:35 a.m. and the medic had already pronounced the victim at 5:21.
When asked if he had the medic’s notes to verify those times, Veney testified that he did not have them but that since he was testifying under oath, that means it’s true. (🧐)
When asked why the medic wasn’t in the photo of the crime scene, Veney said “I may have misspoke” and explained that he doesn’t pay attention to the medics.
Veney testified he reviewed all the documents in the case and all the photos, then backtracked to “I review everything that is significant.”
When asked if he took any notes about who was on the scene, he answered “those who were represented on the scene had a chance to come here to testify.”
When asked which stores he checked for cameras on Belvedere, he answered that he saw a video from the store on Park Heights. When counsel asked again re: Belvedere he said the stores on Belvedere were closed.
He acknowledged he knows that stores with cameras often have them running off-hours but then testified he did not go back the next day to check.
When asked when he submitted the victim’s cell phones, Veney said “I took an inordinate amount of time. Defense counsel asked again WHEN he submitted and he said “months later.”
Counsel showed him a report with a submission date of May 2016 and asked for confirmation Veney had the phones for almost a year, and Veney said yes. Counsel asked what he did with them, kicking off ~5 mins of very weird evasive answers.
He said he thought about returning them to the family, he said he held them in a locker, he said he “physically looked through them,” but then said the victim’s family told him the BlackBerry “only contained music.”
He was asked why his reports don’t match what he said about which family members he spoke to and he testified he doesn’t write everything down. He later gave a similar explanation about why his notes on Citiwatch cameras are lacking info about cameras in the area.
He testified he did not talk to any of Kevin Jones’ coworkers other than the Major on the Pimlico security team. He didn’t speak to Mr. Jones’ significant other and wasn’t aware he had one.
Defense called Ofc. Heffernan who had testified earlier for the state. He explained that among the evidence he collected around Mr. Jones’ body were two perfume bottles. Counsel showed the items and asked why he called them perfume bottles, he said that’s what they looked like.
Counsel asked him to read the words on one of the items, a vial with a blue top. They were instructions to empty the contents into a specimen container and then urinate into the container.
Defense called the crime scene tech Wisner who had testified for the state. They showed him a photo he had taken of the garage where #KeithDavisJr was shot by BPD which does not show a gun on the refrigerator.
Firearms examiner Daniel Lamont, who had not been called by the state, testified that there was no gunshot residue in the barrel of the gun found in the garage.
The registered owner of the gun testified. He is still as of today the registered owner of the gun. He recalls “transferring” it at some point but there is no paperwork.
The gun owner worked at two gun stores frequented by Baltimore City police. One was owned by a city sheriff’s deputy. He testified when he sold his own personal guns, he sold them through the stores.
Government gun records entered into evidence show no record of a sale of this gun.
Court then recessed for lunch. We will update about the afternoon witnesses at the end of the day.
