Slain Witness' Testimony Permitted in Scottie Beats Case
Prince George's County prosecutors use Witness Intimidation Law
Friday, Aug 7, 2009 | Updated 3:15 PM EST
Prince George's County prosecutors take advantage of the Witness Intimidation Law for the first time.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. -- Prosecutors will be permitted to use the grand jury testimony of a slain witness in the trial of a man accused of killing a high-profile music engineer.
Prince George's County prosecutors have shown "clear and convincing" evidence that defendant Jamal Alexis is responsible for the death of witness Bobby Ennels, a judge said Thursday.
Ennels was shot to death in October. He had planned to testify against Alexis, who's charged in the October 2006 slaying of hip hop recording engineer Raymond Brown, also known as Scottie Beats.
Alexis and his younger brother, Rashadd Alexis, have been indicted on charges of conspiring to kill Ennels, and prosecutors presented evidence of that conspiracy in hearings this week.
Police believe Rashadd Alexis carried out a mafia-style, witness-intimidation execution ordered by his brother.
It's the first time Prince George's County prosecutors have taken advantage of Maryland's Witness Intimidation Law, which passed in 2005 and allows use of the testimony of slain witnesses.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC4 Washington
Posted Friday, Aug 7, 2009 - 3:03 PM EST
