A woman testified today that she saw two brothers divide up drugs, money and jewelry stolen during a robbery in which four women were shot to death at the Fairmont Terrace apartment complex in January.
Jamila Jones testified during the Tulsa County District Court hearing for James Poore and Cedric Poore that James Poore told her "he had to do it and bro finished the other three."
The hearing for brothers James Poore, 32, and Cedric Poore, 39, was continued from July, when four prosecution witnesses testified during three days.
The Poore brothers are each charged with four counts of first-degree murder. The homicides occurred Jan. 7 in an apartment at the complex near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue.
Killed were Julie Jackson, 55; Misty Nunley, 33; Rebeika Powell, 23; and Kayetie Powell Melchor, 23.
Several family members wore heart-shaped photos of the women pinned to their shirts.
District Attorney Tim Harris has not announced whether he will seek the death penalty in the case. That decision is usually made following the conclusion of a preliminary hearing.
Jones, 21, testified she moved into Fairmont Terrace in June and that James Poore, her boyfriend, had lived with her since September. She said on the day of the killings, she went to Rebeika Powell's apartment to smoke a cigarette.
She said she and Powell were friends and that their sons often played together. Jones said Powell had claimed that morning that Jones had stolen from her, but Jones denied the accusation.
"I told her I wasn't raised like that," Jones said.
Jones said while she was in Powell's bedroom, she saw numerous small baggies of "ice" -- slang for methamphetamine -- on a table with "smiley faces" on the bags.
Jones said there was also cash and jewelry in Powell's bedroom. She said as she left the apartment, she called James Poore to tell him what she had seen there.
When Jones returned to her apartment, which was one floor below, she said James Poore had called his brother to come over.
Jones testified that Cedric Poore arrived and went into a bedroom to talk with his brother. She said she heard James Poore said he planned to "hit a lick," slang for a robbery.
The brothers left Jones' apartment and were gone for about 20 minutes, Jones said. When they returned, Cedric Poore was carrying a backpack and had a black gun tucked in his waistband.
Jones said the two went into her bedroom and dumped out the contents of the backpack, including the baggies of drugs with the "smiley faces," about $300 cash and a food stamp card bearing Rebeika Powell's name.
Cedric asked James "if he knew somebody that wanted to buy the jewelry," Jones testified. James Poore responded that he did not and the two split the cash.
Cedric Poore took the jewelry, James Poore kept the drugs and they split the cash. Jones said James Poore gave her $15 of the money.
"He (James) tells me that he had to do it," Jones said. "He said he just had to do it and bro finished the other three."
Witnesses have testified previously that the women's bodies were found in a bedroom with their hands bound.
When asked whether James Poore said anything else, Jones said he told her "Cedric asked him if they needed to clean up the mess." Jones said she understood that to mean the brothers were considering whether to kill her and four other people who had spent the night in her apartment because they were potential witnesses.
Jones said she and James Poore, along with several other people, went to a nearby store after the killings. When they returned, police were at the complex but Jones said she did not tell them what she had witnessed.
During cross examination by James Poore's attorney, Kathy Fry, Jones said she had been interviewed by police on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6. She said she initially lied to police, telling them Rebeika had been threatened by a drug dealer named "Suave."
Jones said she was afraid she or her family members would be harmed if she told the truth. She said she later told police the truth.
Fry referred to various inconsistent statements that Jones had made regarding the events.
Defense attorney John Echols, who represents Cedric Poore, questioned Jones about a deal she cut with prosecutors in exchange for her testimony. Jones said she agreed "to testify truthfully" in exchange for not being prosecuted for her role in the case.
Echols asked Special District Judge Stephen Clark to order documents unsealed regarding a hearing in May, during which prosecutors apparently granted immunity to Jones in return for her testimony.
Jones made statements during the investigation that "made her part and parcel to a murder," Echols claimed.
Clark denied the motion, saying the judge who ordered the documents sealed should hear it.
The hearing has often been contentious and Clark expressed frustration during the July testimony at the slow pace. The hearing is expected to continue for several days.
Before testimony began Monday, Echols complained that city officials were interfering with his attempts to talk to police officers and that prosecutors had not turned over current addresses for some witnesses.
First Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond said many of the witnesses were "transient" and that the issue had also caused problems for prosecutors.
Clark either overruled or deferred Echols' motions, saying they could be considered at a later time.
Five witnesses have testified so far in the hearing, which will determine whether the brothers will be held for trial.
A neighbor testified in July about finding the four women bound and shot in a bedroom of the apartment where Nunley lived with Rebeika Powell and Kayetie Powell Melchor, who are sisters. Jackson was a neighbor who had apparently gone to check on the women.
Casey Poore, Cedric Poore’s wife, testified earlier that James Poore told her he shot the women because he feared they could identify him.
