On the day four women were shot to death in their apartment at Fairmont Terrace, two brothers discussed a robbery in an apartment unit above them, a witness testified Tuesday.
Deandre Jones testified during the second day of a preliminary hearing in Tulsa District Court for James Poore and Cedric Poore, charged in the slayings of the four women.
The hearing Tuesday was often contentious, with defense attorney John Echols objecting frequently. At one point, Special Judge Stephen Clark expressed frustration with the pace of the hearing, saying: “If everyone will do their jobs we can move this case forward.”
Jones, 24, testified that after he awoke Jan. 7, Cedric Poore came into the apartment where he was living with his sister, Jamila Jones. He said James Poore, his sister’s boyfriend, was also living in the apartment.
James Poore and Jamila Jones were in the bedroom and Cedric Poore joined them, Deandre Jones testified. He said he heard a voice he believed to be James Poore saying “are we ready to hit this lick?”
Under questioning by a prosecutor, Deandre Jones said he understands the phrase meant to commit a robbery. He said he then left the apartment and walked to the Tulsa Hills shopping center to pay his phone bill.
When he returned, Jones said he saw police cars, fire trucks and ambulance units in the apartment complex parking lot and learned of the killings in the unit below.
James Poore, 32, and Cedric Poore, 39, are each charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Julie Jackson, 55; Misty Nunley, 33; Rebeika Powell, 23; and Kayetie Powell Melchor, 23, at the Fairmont Terrace subsidized housing complex. The killings at the complex near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue occurred shortly after noon.
Deandre Jones’ testimony is the first regarding Cedric Poore’s alleged role in the killings.
Two relatives of the brothers testified Monday that James Poore said he had killed the women during the robbery.
On cross examination, defense attorneys pointed out Deandre Jones’ vision problems. He said he has glaucoma and other vision problems that limit his vision to about 20 feet or less.
Deandre Jones said he could recognize voices and see people’s faces from a distance of several feet. Several friends of his sister were also present in the apartment on the day of the killings, including a person Deandre Jones had described as “a he-she.”
During questioning by Echols, he acknowledged smoking marijuana regularly. Deandre Jones said Jamila Jones used drugs including marijuana, ice, Xanax and Lortab and that sometimes she and James Poore made money selling drugs.
At some point before the killings, James Poore said he had a gun in the apartment, Deandre Jones testified.
Police searched Jones’ apartment Feb. 6 and arrested James Poore. Deandre said he was released after being questioned by police, who gave him a ride back but said “it wouldn’t be safe for me to stay there.”
Jamila Jones was later evicted from Fairmont Terrace, records show. Managers at the complex said James Poore, a felon, had not registered as a guest at the complex and would not have been allowed to stay there if he had.
More witnesses for the prosecution are expected to testify Tuesday afternoon about conversations in Jamila Jones’ apartment before and after the killings.
District Attorney Tim Harris has not announced whether his office will seek the death penalty in the case. Tulsa County prosecutors typically make that decision after the preliminary hearing.
Friends and relatives of the four women wept during some of the testimony Monday. Some attending the hearing wore heart-shaped photos of the women on their lapels Tuesday.
After the lunch recess, Clark asked a courtroom spectator seen taking photos of two witnesses -- Jamila Jones and another woman whose name was unclear -- what his name was. The man identified himself as Eric Poore, a brother of James and Cedric Poore.
"If you want to attend this trial, stop that behavior immediately," Clark said.
Echols then continued cross examining Deandre Jones for about 90 minutes. During that time, Jones agreed that a lot of drug activity occurred in Fairmont Terrace and that he had a "bad memory."
After Jones finished testifying, the preliminary hearing recessed until Sept. 9.
