Key witness in Detroit murder trial held in contempt - Detroit Free Press

The key witness in the murder case against suspect Charles Jones -- whose 7-year-old daughter was killed in a police raid -- was held in contempt of court Monday for refusing to testify and could lose his plea deal with prosecutors, attorneys said.

Under the agreement, Chauncey Owens pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify that Jones, who is charged with first-degree murder, gave him the gun he used to shoot teenager Je'Rean Blake in May 2010.

Owens refused to testify earlier this month. He took the stand Monday, but remained silent -- despite an order signed by 36th District Judge E. Lynise Bryant-Weekes, offering him immunity against self-incrimination.

Bryant-Weekes found Owens in contempt, but adjourned the preliminary exam until Dec. 22 to give him time to reconsider.

If his silence continues, Owens -- whose sentencing is scheduled for Friday --could once again find himself charged with first-degree murder, his attorney and prosecutors said.

According to Owens' plea agreement, if he testifies about who supplied him with the gun, the prosecutor would ask the judge to reduce his murder sentence by two years. As it stands, Owens would serve two years for felony firearms and then begin a 28-year sentence, the agreement says.

But by not cooperating, the deal is in doubt.

"It is conceivable that he could go from witness to codefendant," David Cripps, Owens' attorney, said.

Wayne County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Maria Miller said "that is possible," but declined to say whether the plea would be challenged.

"My client has a lot to think about," Cripps said.

Jones is facing life in prison without parole on the murder charge. He also is charged with felon in possession of a firearm, felony firearm, habitual fourth-offense and perjury.

Just days after Blake's murder, police raided a home in Detroit -- with a camera crew in tow -- looking for Owens. During the raid, Officer Joseph Weekley fired a shot that killed Jones' 7-year-old daughter, Aiyana Stanley-Jones.

Weekley was indicted by a one-man grand jury on charges of manslaughter and careless discharge of a firearm causing injury or death. Also indicted was Allison Howard of Boston, a principal photographer with "The First 48," which was filming with police during the raid. She is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice, accused of lying under oath.



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