Darrent William's murderer??

[Atlas]

Case dropped after witness killed

By Kieran Nicholson
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 04/13/2007 11:23:46 PM MDT


Three days before her death, Kalonniann Clark, 28, allegedly received a phone call warning her not to testify. (Special to The Post)Attempted-murder charges against a Denver man were dismissed Friday because the victim was shot to death in December and can't testify.

Benjamin C. Thomas, 28, was accused of driving the car used in a June 2005 drive-by shooting targeting Kalonniann Clark. Another man, 28- year-old Brian Kenneth Hicks, has been charged with being the shooter.

Clark, also 28, survived that attempt on her life, but she was gunned down outside her Denver home in December, a few days before she was scheduled to testify against Hicks. No arrests have been made in her murder.

"Without her testimony, we really have no case to carry forward against Thomas," said Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the Denver district attorney's office.

Before her death, Clark identified Thomas as the driver in the 2005 drive-by shooting through photographs and made a statement to that effect.

Two attempted-murder charges were filed against Thomas in January. The delay in filing the charges and the fact that defense attorneys had no opportunity to question Clark about her identification led to the dismissal.

Prosecutors declined to comment after Friday's hearing.

Meanwhile, the case against Hicks will go forward, Kimbrough said.

Hicks was in jail when Clark was killed. Authorities have not said whether they suspect Clark was killed to silence her as a witness.

"We're not sure Hicks had anything to do with this, but we are not ruling that out," Denver police spokeswoman Virginia Quiñones said shortly after Clark's death.

According to court records, Clark told authorities that Hicks' wife, Kimaya James, had threatened to "ruin" her if she testified against Hicks in a phone call three days before Clark's death.

Hicks, who police describe as a gang member, has been identified as the owner of the sport-utility vehicle that police believe was used in the shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams on New Year's Day. The Williams investigation is ongoing, and no one has been arrested.

In the 2005 attack on Clark, Hicks was charged with two attempted-homicide counts, possession of a handgun by a previous offender and illegal discharge of a weapon in connection, Kimbrough said.

Prosecutors allege that Hicks fired bullets that hit Clark's car as well as that of a passer-by, resulting in the two counts. Neither Clark nor the other driver were hit by gunfire.

After the shots were fired, police found Hicks hiding in the 900 block of Bannock Street, wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a gun magazine containing 10 .40-caliber bullets, according to court records.

"The circumstances are very different" in the cases of Thomas and Hicks, Kimbrough said. "Hicks was identified as a suspect early on. The charges against Brian Hicks stand as a completely separate case."

In a separate incident in 2005 before the drive-by, Hicks allegedly shot at two women, one of them Clark, outside a nightclub, prosecutors say. Neither was injured. Clark was later threatened about testifying against Hicks in the nightclub incident, authorities say.

Hicks' attempted murder trial is scheduled to start April 23.

[watermock]

Keytsone cops. Anyone want to fry eggs on my forehead? They know damn well who did this, they just can't prove it because of incompetence.

I wish Silverman was still the DA.

[cutthemdown]

We need a special task force of highly trained killers to take on these gangmembers. I'm not talking about regualr cops or even gang unit cops. I'm talking about straight killers trained to seek out, infiltrate, and destroy these gangs from within. It's time for a STARCHAMBER on these killers because unfortunatley our regular laws are not going to work with these types. They will simply kill witnesses. It's time for killers and thugs like Hicks to be as afraid as we are of them. 10-20 known gang memebers turn up mysteriously missing would be a great thing. Make those fools afraid to hit the streets.

[watermock]

Sounds like a job for Chuck Norris, or maybe even Teddy Bruchi. Bad joke I guess.

I agree. They know who they are.

Due Process this punk...

[cutthemdown]

Exactly due process my white ass. The only process they deserve is a cremating process.

[watermock]

Why didn't they get a written statement before she was murdered? Incompetence.

[broncogary]

Why didn't they get a written statement before she was murdered? Incompetence.

How do you cross-examine a written statement?

[defenseman]

Why didn't they get a written statement before she was murdered? Incompetence.

That, in addition to video testimony, duly witnessed, would have been more compelling. However, too bad you have to even think of doing that, assuming that she would have been killed prior to the court date. What does that say about the denver police protection and the officers in general? They freaking suck. that's what it says. In addition, agree with the "special" task unit, just for the freaking "GANGSTA's". Whack them all..dman

[defenseman]

How do you cross-examine a written statement?

Video testimony happens alot more than you know...dman

[Bronco_Beerslug]

We need a special task force of highly trained killers to take on these gangmembers. I'm not talking about regualr cops or even gang unit cops. I'm talking about straight killers trained to seek out, infiltrate, and destroy these gangs from within. It's time for a STARCHAMBER on these killers because unfortunatley our regular laws are not going to work with these types. They will simply kill witnesses. It's time for killers and thugs like Hicks to be as afraid as we are of them. 10-20 known gang memebers turn up mysteriously missing would be a great thing. Make those fools afraid to hit the streets.
Brilliant!

[watermock]

It's not a matter of cross-examination...that seems to have been done by the murderer.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

How do you cross-examine a written statement?

If the prosecution was able to prove that the defendant was responsible for the witness being unable to testify, the Confrontation Clause wouldn't apply in that situation.

[Atlas]

I think Darrents murder will be solved sometime in the future but I don't think it will have anything to do with police work. Someone will come forward.

[cutthemdown]

Ya just like they solved Tu pac and Biggies case. I have faith.

[Sodak]

Case dropped after witness killed

By Kieran Nicholson
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 04/13/2007 11:23:46 PM MDT


Three days before her death, Kalonniann Clark, 28, allegedly received a phone call warning her not to testify. (Special to The Post)Attempted-murder charges against a Denver man were dismissed Friday because the victim was shot to death in December and can't testify.


Thanks for the clarification, Mr. Obvious.

[smalltowngrll]

You know, I was just thinking this morning about starting a thread asking if there was any new information on his murder investigation! I'm ready to see justice served to the idiot who shot him!

[Atlas]

Thanks for the clarification, Mr. Obvious.

That is funny... well, not funny but you know what I mean.. Good catch on your part.

[footstepsfrom#27]

It's not a matter of cross-examination...that seems to have been done by the murderer.
Before her death, Clark identified Thomas as the driver in the 2005 drive-by shooting through photographs and made a statement to that effect.

Two attempted-murder charges were filed against Thomas in January. The delay in filing the charges and the fact that defense attorneys had no opportunity to question Clark about her identification led to the dismissal.
;D

[watermock]

So she was running with no ID? Take fingerprints. That's not a barrier for a statement either. All you have to do is make that statement ID unknown, take a picture and establishe the identity from fingerprints sure to be on file.

[Broncos_OTM]

it is hard to infiltrate a gang. especially if they are a tight nit crew. murder happens every day by gang members. they are punks with guns. i just had some kid i work with murdered two weeks ago. he was 15!!! the cops are scared to even answer 911 calls. i also whitnessed two grown ladies fist fighting the other week right in front of my work. what disturbed me most is that one was pushing a infant in a stroller.. and guess where the stroller was located .. right in the middle of the street..Gangs and drugs are a plauge to our nation! when is it our poloticians are gonna do something about this. instead of fighting wars over seas. i compare it like this. i dont have enough food to feed my family as well as my neighbor. and instead of feeding my family first. i will feed my neighbors family while mine goes with out. its time to reevalueate folks

[ZONA]

The current system's way of dealing with gang bangers is to just let them kill each other. A few innocent people here and there are taken down during this but that's how it is. Most of the people killed though are the bangers themselves. Until a law is passed outlawing hand guns, murders will always be way too easy because it's easy to conceal them. If the NRA wants to keep their rights, fine, keep your rifles, shot guns and such. Just give up your case to keep pistols and automatic machine guns. There is no place for citizens to carry those kinds of weopons. Those are only used for one thing........killing humans. If you want to cary something for protection, keep a shotgun in your house. We'd probably have less kids accidently killed that way also, since most of them are accidently shot with pistols.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

The current system's way of dealing with gang bangers is to just let them kill each other. A few innocent people here and there are taken down during this but that's how it is. Most of the people killed though are the bangers themselves. Until a law is passed outlawing hand guns, murders will always be way too easy because it's easy to conceal them. If the NRA wants to keep their rights, fine, keep your rifles, shot guns and such. Just give up your case to keep pistols and automatic machine guns. There is no place for citizens to carry those kinds of weopons. Those are only used for one thing........killing humans. If you want to cary something for protection, keep a shotgun in your house. We'd probably have less kids accidently killed that way also, since most of them are accidently shot with pistols.I own handguns and I'm not giving mine up so that's a problem.

[TexanBob]

Thanks for the clarification, Mr. Obvious.

It's the Denver Post. They have to dumb it down so their readers can understand it. :P

Oh, and judging from the byline, I think it's Ms. Obvious.

[Pat Bowlen]

I'm calling Jimmy McNulty.

[Broncos_OTM]

The current system's way of dealing with gang bangers is to just let them kill each other. A few innocent people here and there are taken down during this but that's how it is. Most of the people killed though are the bangers themselves. Until a law is passed outlawing hand guns, murders will always be way too easy because it's easy to conceal them. If the NRA wants to keep their rights, fine, keep your rifles, shot guns and such. Just give up your case to keep pistols and automatic machine guns. There is no place for citizens to carry those kinds of weopons. Those are only used for one thing........killing humans. If you want to cary something for protection, keep a shotgun in your house. We'd probably have less kids accidently killed that way also, since most of them are accidently shot with pistols.i am all for them killing each other o .ver a crack rock its when innocents that are involved that it disturbs me. Also you can kill someone just as easily with a shotgun(probably easier) then a handgun. so in that case taking handguns woudl do little good. and as another poster said it. i refuse to give up my guns.

[watermock]

http://bestofyoutube.livedigital.com/#:t=channelAll:o=0:c=1591680

Simple and effective.

Warning: As graphic as funny.

[Sodak]

It's the Denver Post. They have to dumb it down so their readers can understand it. :P

Oh, and judging from the byline, I think it's Ms. Obvious.

Yep, with these names anymore, who can tell?

[No1BroncoFan]

The current system's way of dealing with gang bangers is to just let them kill each other. A few innocent people here and there are taken down during this but that's how it is. Most of the people killed though are the bangers themselves. Until a law is passed outlawing hand guns, murders will always be way too easy because it's easy to conceal them. If the NRA wants to keep their rights, fine, keep your rifles, shot guns and such. Just give up your case to keep pistols and automatic machine guns. There is no place for citizens to carry those kinds of weopons. Those are only used for one thing........killing humans. If you want to cary something for protection, keep a shotgun in your house. We'd probably have less kids accidently killed that way also, since most of them are accidently shot with pistols.
Do you really believe making handguns illegal will keep the 'bangers from getting them? But you want to take them out of the hands of resposible adults.

Ben

[Florida_Bronco]

The current system's way of dealing with gang bangers is to just let them kill each other. A few innocent people here and there are taken down during this but that's how it is. Most of the people killed though are the bangers themselves. Until a law is passed outlawing hand guns, murders will always be way too easy because it's easy to conceal them. If the NRA wants to keep their rights, fine, keep your rifles, shot guns and such. Just give up your case to keep pistols and automatic machine guns. There is no place for citizens to carry those kinds of weopons. Those are only used for one thing........killing humans. If you want to cary something for protection, keep a shotgun in your house. We'd probably have less kids accidently killed that way also, since most of them are accidently shot with pistols.

Do you honestly think that outlawing handguns is going to stop this? Think about it, it's already against the law to murder someone, anyone who's willing to murder someone is going to walk right there that law.

[maven]

The current system's way of dealing with gang bangers is to just let them kill each other. A few innocent people here and there are taken down during this but that's how it is. Most of the people killed though are the bangers themselves. Until a law is passed outlawing hand guns, murders will always be way too easy because it's easy to conceal them. If the NRA wants to keep their rights, fine, keep your rifles, shot guns and such. Just give up your case to keep pistols and automatic machine guns. There is no place for citizens to carry those kinds of weopons. Those are only used for one thing........killing humans. If you want to cary something for protection, keep a shotgun in your house. We'd probably have less kids accidently killed that way also, since most of them are accidently shot with pistols.

Ummmmmmmmm, hell no!

[Los Broncos]

http://bestofyoutube.livedigital.com/#:t=channelAll:o=0:c=1591680

Simple and effective.

Warning: As graphic as funny.

In ur face!

[Atlas]

In ur face!

What I think of when I hear Denver PD

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