BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – A jury on Thursday acquitted one man accused in the execution-style slayings of three adults and a toddler on a Boston street and deadlocked on murder charges against another.
There is now an increased police presence in Mattapan as neighborhood leaders urge people to remain calm. A meeting is also planned for Friday at Morning Star Baptist Church.
Edward Washington was cleared of all charges against him, including four charges of murder. Dwayne Moore was cleared of a drug charge, but the judge declared a mistrial after the jury deadlocked on the other charges against him, including murder.
After the verdicts were read against Washington, two women were dragged out of the courtroom by officers after an outburst. Other onlookers buried their heads in their hands, or shook their heads and cried.
The verdict came after seven days of deliberations, following a month long trial for the September 2010 slayings, which prosecutors said happened during a drug robbery on a street in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood.
In a statement, County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said, “I want to make clear from the outset that we have every intention of holding Dwayne Moore accountable. Today’s mistrial does not change our position that he pulled the trigger on five human beings, killing four and paralyzing one. We are steadfast in the decision to continue moving forward against him. These crimes demand justice and the evidence supports a conviction.”
Washington and Moore were charged with killing 2-year-old Amani Smith, who was found in the arms of his mother, 21-year-old Eyanna Flonory. Also slain were Flonory’s boyfriend, 21-year-old Simba Martin and 22-year-old Levaughn Washum-Garrison. The fifth victim, Marcus Hurd, survived the shooting but is paralyzed from the neck down.
Defense lawyers challenged the credibility of the prosecution’s key witness, Kimani Washington, who admitted taking part in the robbery, but said he left before the shootings.
Kimani Washington cut a deal with prosecutors in return for a sentence of up to 18 years in prison.
It wasn’t immediately clear if prosecutors intend to retry Moore.
Mattapan quadruple murder trial ends with not guilty verdict : MyFoxBOSTON.com
