Opinion ID: 779999
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Parker's Opportunity to Kill Lewis

Text: 28 The Government showed Parker's opportunity to kill Lewis through evidence that Parker had sought to meet with Lewis prior to the shooting and through the testimony of a witness who observed Parker and Lewis together shortly before Lewis's death. The value of this evidence, however, was modest for a number of reasons. Lewis's body was discovered near the intersection of Fillmore and Girard, where armed drug dealers and illegal narcotics transactions abounded. For instance, Cook testified that in late 1996, there was [d]aily drug activity on the corner of Fillmore and Girard and that he and Glenn sold drugs there. 29 Further, the Government's evidence demonstrated that it was not unusual for Parker and Lewis to associate with each other. Moore testified that he had seen Parker and Lewis together five or six times prior to Lewis's death. Johnson also testified to Parker's familiarity with Lewis. Finally, Moore testified that there was another unidentified person in the car with Parker shortly before Lewis was shot. Evidence that places Parker with Lewis around the time of the murder is clearly some evidence of opportunity. But the weight of this evidence grows attenuated in the face of evidence that they knew and associated with each other and that someone else besides Parker was seen with Lewis shortly before Lewis's death. 30