On the day four women were shot to death in their apartment at Fairmont Terrace, two brothers in an apartment above them had discussed plans to rob the women, a witness testified Tuesday.
"I heard something like, 'Are you ready to hit this lick?' I believe it was James Poore," said Deandre Jones, the only witness to testify Tuesday during a preliminary hearing for James Poore and his brother Cedric Poore. Jones said he believed that the phrase was slang for committing a robbery.
The second day of the preliminary hearing in Tulsa County District Court was often contentious. Defense attorney John Echols, representing Cedric Poore, and First Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond clashed over numerous legal points.
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." Clark later told Echols to move on from a particular line of questioning.
Four witnesses have testified so far for the prosecution. The hearing to determine whether the brothers will be held for trial continues Sept. 9.
James Poore, 32, and Cedric Poore, 39, are each charged with four counts of first-degree murder. The homicides occurred Jan. 7 in an apartment at the Fairmont Terrace complex near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue.
Killed were Julie Jackson, 55; Misty Nunley, 33; Rebeika Powell, 23; and Kayetie Powell Melchor, 23.
Jones, 24, testified that he lived with his sister, Jamila Jones, in an apartment above the unit where the women were killed. He said James Poore, his sister's boyfriend, was also living in the apartment.
Deandre Jones said that after he awoke on Jan. 7, Cedric Poore came into the apartment and went into the bedroom occupied by James Poore and Jamila Jones. Under questioning by Drummond, Jones said he heard a voice he believed to be James Poore's discussing a robbery.
Jones said he then left the apartment and walked to the Tulsa Hills shopping center to pay his phone bill. When he returned, Jones saw police cars, fire trucks and ambulance units in the complex's parking lot and learned of the killings in the unit below, he said.
His testimony was the first so far regarding Cedric Poore's alleged role in the killings. Cedric Poore's wife and daughter testified Monday that James Poore told them he had killed the women during the robbery.
On cross-examination, defense attorneys pointed out Jones' vision problems. He said he has glaucoma and other vision problems that limit his sight to 20 feet or less.
But Jones said he could recognize voices and see people's faces from a distance of several feet.
At one point, James Poore's attorney, Kathy Fry, questioned Jones.
"I'm totally blind, so I know about recognizing voices," she said.
Jones said he recognized the voice of Cedric Poore, who had visited the apartment several times in the past and gave Jones rides to work.
Several friends of his sister's were also present in Jones' apartment on the day of the killings, he testified.
During questioning by Echols, Jones frequently said he could not recall or didn't know the answer to questions and that he had a "bad memory." He acknowledged smoking marijuana regularly and said Jamila Jones also used drugs, including marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, Xanax and Lortab.
Deandre Jones said that at times, Jamila Jones and James Poore made money selling drugs.
When Echols asked about drug activity in Fairmont Terrace, Deandre Jones said: "Yes, I agree that there was a lot of drugs there."
In testimony Monday, a witness said Kayetie Powell told James Poore that "her sister always had drugs and money at her apartment."
Officials have said drugs and money were stolen during the robbery.
Deandre Jones said that at some point before the killings, James Poore said he had a gun in the apartment.
Police searched Jones' apartment Feb. 6 and arrested James Poore.
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.
District Attorney Tim Harris, who watched some of the hearing Tuesday afternoon, 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 victims wept during some of the testimony Monday. Some wore heart-shaped photos of the women on their lapels Tuesday.
After testimony resumed Tuesday after lunch, Clark was informed that a courtroom spectator had been seen taking photos of two witnesses: Jamila Jones and another woman whose name was unclear.
Clark asked the man to identify himself, and he said his name was Eric Poore, a brother of the defendants.
Clark said he would not tolerate what he viewed as witness intimidation.
"If you want to attend this trial, stop that behavior immediately," Clark said.
Ziva Branstetter 918-581-8306
ziva.branstetter@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Witness tells of brothers' robbery plot
