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Teen linked to shooting that left 1 teen dead, another crippled

Teen linked to shooting that left 1 teen dead, another crippled image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
December
Year
1989
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Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
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Teen linked to shooting that left 1 teen dead, another crippled

By SUSAN OPPAT

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

YPSILANTI — A 15-year-old Ypsilanti boy charged as an adult in the slaying of one Detroit teenager and the crippling of another sucked his thumb Tuesday through more than an hour of testimony that implicated him in the shooting.

Also at the action-packed hearing in 14A District Court before Judge Kenneth Bronson:

Police quietly arrested the first witness called by the prosecution, a 15-year-old boy, on a drug charge. The boy, who police said escaped from the juvenile detention center last year during a melee and assault on workers at the center, was taken away in handcuffs without completing his testimony.

Bronson appointed an attorney for that witness, after telling him he did not have to implicate himself. The judge also warned him that perjury could result in a life prison sentence.

Bronson mistakenly called the witness “the defendant” several times, and was corrected by both an assistant prosecuting attorney and police.

‘The hearing will conclude Jan. 9, after the survivor of the shooting observes a suspect lineup some time this month.

Andre Owens, 17, was shot in the abdomen and leg in the Oct. 22 incident in the 900 block of West Michigan Avenue. He survived but now uses a wheelchair. Robert Gilbert, 16, died of a single shotgun wound to the chest.

Trevor Brownlee was charged with murder and attempted murder Dec. 6.

A boy who turned 15 earlier this month testified he was with Brownlee the night of the shooting.

But when he paused too long in answering a question asked by Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Steven Hiller, Bronson interrupted to tell the boy he did not have to implicate himself in the shooting. Then he warned him that perjury in a capital case carries a life sentence in prison on conviction. Bronson assigned attorney Randall Roberts to discuss self-incrimination and perjury issues with the teen.

Before the teen left the witness stand, uniformed Ypsilanti police quietly converged, handcuffed him and led him away. He was sought on a drug warrant.

Investigators on the case said they were distressed to learn after the hearing that Brownlee and the first witness called to testify against him are both being housed at the Washtenaw County Juvenile Detention Center — and that workers there cannot guarantee they will be able to keep Brownlee and the witness separated. There was a hearing late this morning on a request to move Brownlee from juvenile detention to the county jail.

Another witness, Anthony Roberts also testified he was with Brownlee and the first witness on the night of the shooting. He said that, when he heard two shots, he saw a “flash” that originated between Brownlee and the first witness. He said he could not say which teen fired the shots, and said he had not seen either with a shotgun, which was used in the shooting. 

Tracey Jackson, 19, said he was with the other three Ypsilanti youths at the time of the shooting.

Often pausing for a minute or more between responses to questions from the attorneys, Jackson said he was reluctant to testify because he has been labeled by area residents as an informer. But under questioning from Bronson, Jackson indicated it was Brownlee who fired the shotgun.

Brownlee remained expressionless throughout the hearing. He began to suck his thumb when Bronson elicted testimony from Jackson implicating Brownlee.

Mack complained vociferously about Bronson’s questioning of Jackson, but Bronson shot back that “it is not the duty of the judge to treat this as some kind of academic exercise.”

Detective James E. Hall said after the hearing that Bronson’s actions in court were “totally inappropriate.”

“He called the witness a defendant. It was totally improper for the judge to treat him that way. He just turned 15 Dec. 2, and he’s scared to death. The judge is implying (the witness) might be the one who did it. Now what’s he going to do when he comes back (to the stand)?

“He should treat witnesses with a little respect and understanding,” Hall said.