JTVCC Trial Day 3: Counselor and CO’s testify

WILMINGTON, Del. – Wednesday marks day three for the trial on the four prisoners currently facing charges for the death of Lt. Steven Floyd.

For the first two days, witnesses have taken the stand against Jarreau Ayers, Deric Forney, Roman Shankaras, and Dwayne Staats.

At the New Castle County Courthouse things got off to a hot start in the trial.

Right off the bat, correctional officer Lt. Charles Sennett testified that he was one of the first to arrive at Building C. He said upon arrival he didn’t see any inmates or officers, but did see blood on the floor and found Lt. Floyd in a utility closet, who told him that it was trap by the inmates and to get out.

The big piece of Sennett’s testimony though was that he said on his way out locking the door he saw one prisoner walking the halls, which he believes was Dwayne Staats, one of the men on trial. Sennett says Staats seemed like he was acting like a look out.

This is something significant because so far the state has not presented any evidence directly linking the men on trial to Floyd’s murder. Because Staats is representing himself he came back directly at Sennett during his cross, questioning Sennett’s emotional status that day suggesting he may have misremembered who he saw. Also, Sennett did confirm that he saw no blood on Staats.

Also, for the first time Wednesday, the jury saw photos of what the correctional officers looked like when they reached the hospital and they were extremely graphic. One officer was so badly bruised and cut, that it was hard to make out who he was.

At the end of the day, counselor Patricia May came to the stand. She was one of the hostages. She says she couldn’t make out any voices but she was taken for hours. May tells the jury that the inmates did tell her that she wouldn’t get hurt. On Thursday, the defense will cross examine.

This trial is slated for the next two weeks for the first group of inmates. 18 inmates are being charged, 16 for the murder of Lieutenant Floyd.