"He's not the shooter:" Key witness goes back on deal with prosecutors in Cohill trial
MILWAUKEE -- He made a deal with prosecutors, and then went back on it in front of a jury. Court officials say that's what a key witness did Tuesday, December 1st -- Day Two of the trial for Darmequaye Cohill, accused in the shooting death of baby Bill Thao.
Kwesen Sanders and Darmequaye Cohill
Police say Kwesen Sanders was the heroin dealer who was the intended target of the shooting that killed Bill Thao on December 27th, 2014.
The shooting happened near 73rd and Mill. Bill Thao was playing with toys in the living room of a home in that area when he was shot. He died at Children's Hospital.
Bill Thao
Kwesen Sanders originally told police the whole story -- and that it was Darmequaye Cohill who fired the shots into the house -- striking the 13-month-old baby boy.
But on Tuesday, during Cohill's trial, Sanders -- the key witness in this case, changed his tune.
Kwesen Sanders
Police say Sanders was the heroin dealer Cohill was targeting in the shooting -- but Cohill shot into the wrong house.
In court on Tuesday, Sanders went back on the statement he gave police at the time of the shooting -- that he saw Cohill fire.
Questioning of Sanders in court: "Did you tell the detectives you were certain it was him?"
"No," Sanders said.
Questioning of Sanders in court: "Because you have known him since you attended school on North 27th and West Vliet?"
"I told him I know him. That's it," Sanders said.
Darmequaye Cohill
"No" was the response to just about every question the prosecutor asked Sanders in court Tuesday. He even denied his signature is on photos identifying Cohill as the shooter. The defense attorney too was frustrated.
Questioning of Sanders in court: "Do you have medical problems?"
"No," Sanders said.
Questioning of Sanders in court: "Is there something we should know about that affects your ability to remember things that you obviously said or did?"
"No sir," Sanders said.
The prosecutor says Sanders cut a deal -- he would testify against Cohill, and in return, he wouldn't be charged in a prior, unrelated shooting that happened in August.
The prosecutor says Sanders didn't keep his end of the deal.
Questioning of Sanders in court: "Mr. Sanders, do you think this exercise is a game?"
"Why would you think that?" Sanders said.
Questioning of Sanders in court: "Because your answers are silly and ridiculous and you are offending the sensibilities of these 12 people."
"Since you say that, I plead my Fifth Amendment rights and that's the right to remain silent," Sanders said.
When jurors left the courtroom so court officials could discuss this further, Sanders said he didn't want to continue his testimony.
"He's not the shooter. What don't you all get?" Sanders said.
Of course, there's now the question of whether Sanders will be charged with lying in court.
This case is expected to go to the jury on Wednesday, December 2nd.
Bill Thao
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