Attorney Ortwein, Jones, attorney Covert, Bates
photo by Hollie Webb
It was testified Wednesday in the trial for the murder of Reginald Clark that one of the key witnesses had previously given false testimony in a different court setting and lied to police.
In the case, Roderick Bates and Emmett Jones have both been accused of breaking into the home of Clark and shooting him after an altercation at a local night club, the Fire and Ice Club.
One of the main witnesses was Larender Lewis, the girlfriend of 37-year-old Reggie Clark at the time of his death.
On Wednesday afternoon, defense attorneys Clancy Covert and Lee Ortwein told the court they had discovered new information the previous night from Clark's girlfriend's sister.
Lewis' elder sister was brought in as a witness and she told the court that her sister had a reputation for being untruthful.
At this point in the trial, the jury was sent out so that Judge Barry Steelman could speak to the attorneys. They were allowed to question the sister before the jury was brought in so that Judge Steelman could make sure that the new evidence was fair.
She told attorney Covert that Lewis had lied during a child custody hearing, telling that judge she was undergoing chemotherapy when she was not. Her sister also said she once called and lied about being kidnapped, causing a false police report to be filed.
However, according to the law, when introducing new statements about a witness such as these, the witness must be allowed to defend themselves. Since the information was discovered Tuesday night, the prosecution said they had not been able to cross examine Lewis or her sister.
Prosecutor Lance Pope called the statements "highly prejudicial."
Judge Steelman also pointed out that there was not physical proof, such as a transcript of the hearing where Lewis allegedly lied. He ruled the defense would be allowed to ask the witness if she thought her sister had lied, but they would not be allowed to ask specifics.
Recorded tapes of the initial police interrogation of Jones were also played to the jury earlier in the day. Jones adamantly denied any involvement at the time. He also said he never went to the club.
The trial will continue Thursday morning.