Follow courtroom coverage of West Willow homicide hearing
Avantis Parker and Willie Wimberly
The delayed hearing for the men accused of killing an Ypsilanti Township man is scheduled to held in the 14A-1 District Court Thursday.
AnnArbor.com reporter Kyle Feldscher will be following the scheduled hearing including testimony from Avantis Parker and Willie Wimberly starting at 8:30 a.m.
The men are accused in the death of Brandon Charles, who was shot dead hours before he was scheduled to testify against Wimberly in a road-rage case in Detroit.
Wimberly, of Trenton, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.
Parker, of Northville, faces charges of open murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed weapon.
Wimberly and Parker are both facing life sentences if convicted on murder charges stemming from Charles’ Jan. 29 death. Charles was shot and killed in a vehicle parked in front of a house in the 600 block of Calder Avenue in Ypsilanti Township’s West Willow neighborhood, just hours before he was scheduled to testify against Wimberly.
According to police, Wimberly shot Charles and his girlfriend in a road rage incident on Jan. 1.
Both men are being held in jail without bond.
Comments
catbehindthecouch
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 7:47 p.m.
Kyle, thanks for sitting on that hard bench all day for us. It really was interesting to be able to follow along in real time!
John Counts
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 6:06 p.m.
Hi ANotetoFollowSo: John Counts here, AnnArbor.com's other crime reporter. To answer your first question, today is a preliminary examination in district court. It's a hearing to establish two things: whether a crime was committed and whether there is probable cause the suspect or suspects committed it. The end result in a prelim is the judge will dismiss the case because it fails to meet these two things, or it is bound over to circuit court, the higher court, where felonies are dealt with. Many times, preliminary exams are waived and the accused has their case automatically bound over. It's generally the only other time besides a trial in court proceedings when testimony is heard. Also, I know Kyle's not terribly surprised the prelim has gone on past 1 p.m. It could possibly go until 5! Check back for his full story later.
ANotetoFollowSo
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 5:51 p.m.
The court room is all of the sudden "Hotel California." You can check in anytime you want, but you can never leave
ANotetoFollowSo
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 5 p.m.
How's that "we should be done by 1pm" thing working out for you, Kyle? Haha. Thank you for being there for those that cannot be!
Donald Burnison
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 2:36 p.m.
Who is bow?
Cory C
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 2:57 p.m.
The man who's house this occurred at.
ANotetoFollowSo
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 1:15 p.m.
What exactly is supposed to be established today? What the charges are? Are they entering pleas?