JTVCC Riot Trial Day 9: State’s key witness shares horrific details

WILMINGTON, Del. – The State continued to make their case on Friday, against the first three inmates on trial for the murder of Lt. Stephen Floyd.

Roman Shankaras will now be tried with another group after he had a falling out with his lawyer. But the trial continues on with Dwayne Staats, Deric Forney, and Jarreau Ayers. The first three up for trial out of 18.

Arguably, the most notable testimony on Friday came from inmate Richard McCane. McCane said on the stand that he saw one of the men accused, with blood on his clothes, on the day of the riot.

When McCane answered the State’s questions, he recounted for the jury the horrific details of seeing Lt. Floyd being dragged by inmates, while screaming saying, “I don’t know why you covered your face, I can recognize your voice. Once I’m done with you, you will never get out of jail.”

He also testified that he saw Dwayne Staats, one of the three defendants, trying to dispose of his bloody clothes.

During cross examination, the defense pointed to inconsistencies in McCane’s story. They reminded him that he told police he had only heard Staats had disposed of his clothing.

Another big thing to come out of McCane’s testimony doesn’t necessarily relate to this specific case but it does relate to a separate lawsuit against the prison, that McCane is a plaintiff on, claiming inmates were abused and tortured.

When the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) came in on February 2nd to takeover, McCane says, “We were beaten up pretty good. They were upset after seeing Floyd”.

Another big witness to come to the stand is inmate Wade Smith.

He says after the riot, he saw Ayers walking around acting like a facilitator, directing inmates if they can stay or leave. He says that the inmates would ask for permission from Ayers. But Smith also says he never saw Ayers touch anyone.

Later on, Smith said he spoke to another inmate who said they hurt Lt. Floyd. Kelly Gibbs, who is also among the inmates being charged for murder, told Smith he repeatedly struck Lt. Floyd with a fire extinguisher. Plus, John Bramble, who is also facing murder charges for Lt. Floyd, was setting all the clothes on fire to hide evidence.

Court will resume on Monday, October 5, with more of the State’s witnesses. The trial is expected to last a full month.