Case is sent to grand jury 7/26/2013

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 26, 2013

Case is sent to grand jury

Bond reduced for
defendant charged
in July 4 killing

By Emily D. Williams

The defendant in the July 4 shooting death of a Batesville man had his case referred to the Panola County Grand Jury after he appeared in Batesville Municipal Court Wednesday for a probable cause hearing before Judge Bill McKenzie.

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After hearing testimony, Judge McKenzie referred Desmond Robinson’s case to the grand jury and lowered his bond from $1 million to $250,000.

Robinson, 21-A Lamar Thomas, Batesville, sat next to his lawyer, Hartwell Harrison, with his hands and feet shackled as he heard charges read. He is charged with killing Douglas Ellis.
The city’s prosecuting attorney, Bob Morris, called Detective Paul Shivers to the stand.

Shivers testified he received a call around 1:22 a.m. July 4 that a shooting had taken place at the corner of Patton Lane and Martin Luther King.

“We received statements from witnesses that said they saw Ellis fall to ground. He was dead when officers arrived,” Shivers testified.

Shivers testified the gunpowder residue and evidence had been turned over to the crime lab with the results not available during court.

Attorney Harrison called Robinson’s girlfriend, Jakimberly Hoskins, to testify.
 
Hoskins testified Robinson had been her boyfriend for three months.

“He was at my house from 11:30 – 2 a.m.,” she said.

Harrison asked if he called when he got home.

“Yes, he called when he got home,” Hoskins testified.

“Is it true you refused to sign a statement and Robinson’s mother told you not to talk to police?” Morris asked.

“Yea, she just told me not to tell police anything,” she quietly answered.

A bond reduction was requested from the original $1 million bond.

“The city opposes a reduction. There is a concern he is a potential flight risk and threats have
been made against the defendant. There may be retaliation. It’s in the best interest of the defendant for his bond to not be reduced,” Morris said in closing.

“I do find probable cause to refer to the grand jury. Didn’t the defendant turn himself in?” McKenzie asked.

“Yes,” Morris replied.

“Well, the defendant is entitled to a bond. What happens after that is out of the court’s hands,” McKenzie replied.

Robison’s bond was reduced to $250,000.