ORLANDO, Fla. — The prosecution has rested in Marketh Loyd’s second murder trial on Thursday morning.
What You Need To Know
- So far, jurors have heard from various witnesses from the state's side
- Death penalty is still on the table on this case
- Markeith Loyd murder trial: Jurors hear testimony about the details of Lt. Clayton's death
- Testimony begins in Markeith Loyd murder trial of Lt. Debra Clayton
- Defense, prosecution make opening statements in Markeith Loyd murder trial
- Jury selection began Friday in Markeith Loyd murder trial of Lt. Debra Clayton
- Judge in Loyd case says trail won't start until 2021
Some jurors were questioned by the judge before testimony continued on Thursday in the trial of Loyd who is accused of killing Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton.
Loyd is already serving life in prison for the killing of his ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, and her unborn child.
He faces the death penalty in this trial over Clayton’s murder.
The issue with the jurors was one of several legal matters that delayed the start of the testimony on Thursday.
Judge Leticia Marques brought two jurors and two alternate jurors into the courtroom and asked them about a conversation a deputy reported them having outside of the courtroom.
The judge asked those jurors about the conversation, which was apparently about how attorneys were handling witness testimony.
The jury cannot talk about the case while the trial is going on and the judge reminded them of that.
“What we mean by you can’t have any discussions about this case outside of the court, it literally means absolutely nothing. Don’t even talk about the lights going off in the courtroom if they happen to go off. I mean, that’s an exaggeration, but anything that’s related to the trial, the people in the trial, the clerks, attorneys, the people in the audience – you can’t talk about any of that,” said Marques.
The court does not want jurors coming to any conclusions until they hear all of the evidence.
Then, before the jury was brought back in for testimony, Loyd’s defense attorney claimed there was an evidence discovery violation because the defense did not have all of the photos from a crime scene investigator.
The judge ruled there was no violation because that investigator miscounted the number of photos and the defense actually got all of the pictures she took at the scene.
The jury heard testimony from that crime scene investigator who said she recovered 16 shell casings from the Walmart parking lot at Princeton Street and John Young Parkway in Orlando where Clayton was shot, including eight casings from two different guns.
The jury also heard from firearms expert Richard Ruth who closely examined the shell casings and guns collected in this case.
Loyd could face the death penalty in this case if he is convicted, and if all jurors agree to that as his punishment.
Loyd's defense team will begin to make their case on Friday.