A Los Angeles County choose dominated Thursday that prosecutors can proceed with homicide costs in opposition to two males accused of killing a college administrator, regardless of authorities presenting no motive for the brazen murder at L.A. Reside.
Sidney Barrett Morris, 43, an official at Cal State Northridge, was consuming dinner alone two years in the past when a masked man shot him at the back of the top.
Prosecutors charged two males, Santana Kelly and Phillip Clark, with homicide based mostly on surveillance movies, telephone information, jail calls and different proof. They allege Clark was the shooter and that Kelly orchestrated the killing.
Legal professionals for Kelly and Clark requested a choose to dismiss the case for lack of proof, arguing prosecutors hadn’t established a connection between their purchasers and Morris.
Deion Benjamin, Kelly’s legal professional, mentioned prosecutors had proved solely that his shopper helped destroy the getaway automobile, which might imply he was solely an adjunct.
“He’s referred to as to fritter away the automobile, if you happen to consider the proof,” he advised Superior Court docket Decide David Herriford.
Clark’s legal professional mentioned it was solely a detective’s “hypothesis” that his shopper was the masked gunman.
“It feels like they’ve a idea,” mentioned Zino Osehobo, who represents Clark. “With out supporting, corroborative proof.”
Herriford disagreed, ruling he’d seen sufficient to permit the case to proceed.
The killing occurred on Nov. 28, 2023, when a white Ford Escape stopped alongside the curb close to Fixins Soul Kitchen, a restaurant at L.A. Reside.
The shooter was carrying a black tracksuit with white trim, a black balaclava and a baseball cap with the phrases “No F— Given,” safety video footage confirmed.
Los Angeles Police Division detectives recognized Clark because the alleged shooter. They testified that Kelly was a conspirator, pointing to movies he filmed on his telephone whereas allegedly casing Morris’ house complicated.
“I feel it’d be higher to get him on the opposite location, as an alternative of this,” Kelly mentioned in a video filmed a month earlier than Morris was killed.
Police mentioned different video footage confirmed Kelly giving the suspected shooter the “No F— Given” baseball cap and holding a wide-brimmed straw hat, later worn by the getaway driver, who has nonetheless not been recognized.
The detectives mentioned cellphone information confirmed Clark and Kelly’s units touring after the murder to Palmdale, the place the getaway automobile was set on hearth and deserted.
Even after looking out the suspects’ telephones, houses and vehicles and listening to their jail calls, Det. Martin Mojarro mentioned authorities have no idea of a motive.
“Not but. I’m hoping,” Mojarro mentioned.
Clark and Kelly, who’ve maintained their innocence, will probably be arraigned June 5.
Occasions workers reporter Matthew Ormseth contributed to this report.
