JTVCC Riot Trial Day 5: Inmate witnesses testify

WILMINGTON, Del. –  We have the latest on the trial surrounding the deadly prison takeover that took place on February 1, 2017 at James T. Vaughn.

Deric Forney, Dwayne Staats, Jarreau Ayers, and Roman Shankaras are the first four to stand trial.

For the first time here on Friday, the jury got to hear from the inmates themselves as to what they saw happen during that fatal riot.

The biggest testimony came when Royal Downs took the stand for the state.

Downs already under a plea deal with the state testified that three of the men standing trial Roman Shankaras, Dwayne Staats, and Jarreau Ayers had began talking about the plan with a group of people a week before it happened. Downs went on to say that originally it was supposed to be a peaceful protest in the yard, not the hostile takeover that ended up happening. However he also says that a few days later Shankaras told him a full building takeover was being planned.

Another big moment today in court was the testimony of inmate Anthony Morrow who painted the picture for the jury what the beginning moments of the attack looked like.

He said although he couldn’t make out who the prisoners were because they were wearing masks, he described how he watched Lt. Steven Floyd get attacked by multiple men as he put his hands up to desperately try and defend himself.

Downs will finish his testimony on Monday and the defense will cross examine as well.