ORLANDO, Fla. — Day two of testimony in the Markeith Loyd trial began with the removal of a juror Saturday.
- Markeith Loyd is accused of killing Sade Dixon, unborn child
- He will also face trial in shooting death of Orlando police officer
- MORE MARKEITH LOYD COVERAGE:
- Jury Quickly Seated in Markeith Loyd's 1st Murder Trial
- Jury Selection in Markeith Loyd Trial In Second Week
- Potential Jurors in Markeith Loyd Trial Face 1-on-1 Questioning
- Jury Selection For the Trial of Markeith Loyd Begins on Friday
- Judge Denies Request to Combine 2 Markeith Loyd Trials
- Markeith Loyd to Undergo Mental Evaluation After Courtroom Outburst
- Police Force Against Markeith Loyd Ruled "Lawful and Justified"
- New Docs Shed Light Into Orlando Cops' Use of Force Against Loyd
- Markeith Loyd Attorneys: Keep OPD Slaying Out of Sade Dixon Trial
- JUMP TO:
Loyd is on trial in the killing of 24-year-old Dixon and her unborn child.
Judge Leticia Marques removed a juror after another juror sent a letter to the judge on Friday, saying they heard the juror openly admit they lied about having a job.
Marques said, after talking to the juror in court, that the juror's statements were misleading.
The jury, which includes four alternates, is now made up of 11 women, four men. Seven are white, four are black and four are Hispanic.
While the first day of questioning focused on the family of Sade Dixon and the day Dixon was killing in 2016, day two focused on the January 2017 day that touched off the intense manhunt for Markeith Loyd as the suspect — the day Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton was killed.
Two witnesses, including the woman who said she recognized Loyd at an Orlando Walmart and told Clayton, took the stand.
Also taking the stand where two crime scene investigators, and one of the officers who arrested Loyd several days later.
Loyd will face a separate trial for Clayton's death next year. But the judge has ruled that testimony related to the Clayton case can be heard in court.
However, Clayton's death is supposed to have no bearing on the case.
Loyd is concerned the jury will not be able to separate the two murder trials, which he believes could influence their decision.
Loyd told Judge Leticia Marques he had a few objections, especially separating the trials.
Day One Wrap Up
The state wasted no time Friday in describing how they said Loyd opened fire on Dixon's family on December 13, 2016.
"Markeith Loyd was determined to kill Sade Dixon," Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway told jurors. "He did kill her and her unborn child, and he attempted to kill Ronald Stewart."
But in the defense’s opening statement, Loyd’s lead defense attorney tried to portray Loyd as a man who faced adversity — including two times he’d been robbed at gunpoint while working his job. He said that prompted Loyd to arm himself with two guns at all times.
And he described Dixon's shooting differently than prosecutors, trying to show that Loyd was defending himself from Dixon and her brother.
"Her brother attacked Markeith Loyd. A struggle ensued across the yard, where the gun he had taken from her a little bit ago fell from his pocket and he fired, and he fired and he fired," defense attorney Terence Lenamon said.
Then Dixon’s brother took the stand, describing the terrifying moments when he and his sister were shot.
He said he tried to diffuse an argument between his sister and Loyd — and that's when Loyd pulled out his guns.
"I said, 'It’s not that serious bro,' and then I heard a bang and then felt like I lost control of my body. It felt somebody kicked me really hard," Stewart said.
Loyd is scheduled to go to trial over Clayton's killing in May 2020. Loyd is also facing the death penalty in her murder.
Timeline: Major Moments in the Markeith Loyd Investigation