Opinion ID: 1607200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Leon Hadley Murder

Text: Testimony showed that Leon Hadley was shot and killed on the morning of August 21, 1995, outside a store on the corner of 14th Avenue and 61st Street in Miami-Dade County. Hadley suffered six gunshot wounds, with a fatal wound to his head. His wounds did not show stippling that would indicate that he was not shot at a close distance. Eleven shell casings and one live round were found at the murder scene. Hadley had a preexisting gunshot wound to his right leg and had a cast on his leg. Based on witness statements, a BOLO issued for a dark, late model vehicle with a black male driver. Various witnesses testified about the relationship between the defendant Smith and Hadley and what they knew about Hadley's murder. These witnesses included Julian Mitchell, Carlos Reynolds, Phil White, Eric Mitchell, Anthony Fail, Antonio Allen, and Herbert Daniels, all members of John Doe, and Smith's girlfriend Tricia Geter. Hadley had been an enforcer for a drug organization that predated John Doe. Hadley's younger brother Eric operated a drug hole just around the corner from the first drug hole that Smith opened. Smith was concerned that Eric was short stopping potential customers, i.e., taking customers away from the John Doe hole. Smith forced Eric to close his hole. Hadley confronted the members of the Lynch Mob about this situation and it appeared to be resolved. However, a short time later Hadley got into a fight with Keevon Rolle at a Lynch Mob birthday celebration in the neighborhood. When Hadley pursued Rolle as he left the area of the fight, Rolle pulled out a gun and shot Hadley in the leg. A few days later, Hadley confronted members of the Lynch Mob who were sitting on the corner of Northwest 61st Street and 14th Avenue outside the store. Hadley warned them not to sit there when his leg healed because he planned to spray up the corner and kill Lynch Mob members. Shortly after this, Smith and two other individuals were spotted walking through an alley in the area one night and wearing all black clothes, which was indicative of going to war or going to kill someone. Phil White testified that he witnessed Smith and Kelvin Cook shoot Hadley. Smith had shown up at White's house early on the morning of Hadley's shooting. Smith was driving a dark burgundy Delta 88. Smith and Cook were both dressed in black and had black ski masks or scullies. Smith had an Uzi-type gun and Cook had an AK-47 rifle. Smith enlisted White to help him find Hadley. Smith stated that he had a dream that Hadley had killed him. The trio drove around for thirty to forty-five minutes before they spotted Hadley on the corner at the store. Smith stated his intent to kill Hadley and changed seats with White in the car. White was actually driving the vehicle when the shooting took place. White observed Smith put on a ski mask, jump out of the car, and shoot Hadley. When Smith's gun jammed, Cook began shooting. After the shooting, the trio picked up Smith's car and drove both vehicles to a warehouse. They wiped down the vehicle used in the shooting and removed its tag. Tricia Geter also testified about the bad blood between Hadley and Smith. Smith told Geter that Hadley had threatened to kill him and that he was going to kill Hadley first. Smith left Geter's house early in the morning on the day that Hadley was killed. When Smith returned, he appeared nervous and had abrasions on his knee and elbow. He told Geter that he did it and described how his gun had jammed during the shooting. Geter testified that Smith called his mother and Roundtree to tell them about the shooting as well. Geter stated that Smith was well-feared after killing Hadley and took over the area that had been controlled by Hadley. Geter also testified that she had been approached by Smith before the instant trial. Smith wanted Geter to testify that he had been home with her on the morning that Hadley was shot. Anthony Fail also testified that Smith felt threatened by Hadley and had admitted that he had killed Hadley along with Cook and that White was the driver of the car. Mark Roundtree had previously been convicted for Hadley's murder and sentenced to life. Various individuals testified that they either saw Smith make payments to Roundtree's family on a weekly basis after he was arrested or they were ordered to give money to Roundtree's family when the family came to the drug holes. Herbert Daniels overheard Smith and Roundtree talking about Hadley's murder at one point. Smith told Roundtree, You didn't do it; why are you worried? Antonio Allen testified that Smith told him that Roundtree took the blame for Hadley's murder. Tricia Geter testified that Smith paid for Roundtree's attorney and sent his mother Willie Mae Smith to the trial to bring back reports about the proceeding. Anthony Fail testified that Smith stated that Roundtree had nothing to do with Hadley's murder. Roundtree gave inconsistent statements about his involvement in Hadley's shooting. In a statement made in April 1996, Roundtree totally denied any involvement. However, the polygraph operator noted deception in Roundtree's negative response to the question, Do you know who shot Hadley? Sometime during the investigation of John Doe, Detective Frank Alphonso learned that Roundtree might be innocent of Hadley's murder and interviewed him about the incident in December 2000. The sole witness against Roundtree also recanted her trial testimony that Roundtree had shot Hadley. After Roundtree had exhausted all appeal and postconviction proceedings regarding his conviction for Hadley's murder, Roundtree gave another statement in January 2001. Roundtree stated that Smith told him that Smith, Cook, and White were in the car together, and had shot Hadley. After having a brief discussion with Detective Alphonso, Roundtree amended his statement and said that he had also been in the car and had shot Hadley with an AK-47, which was consistent with the forensic evidence about the shooting. In July 2004, Roundtree apparently changed his story again. This statement is the subject of one of Smith's claims on appeal and will be discussed more fully in the analysis of that issue below. This time Roundtree stated that he had not been in the car and had not shot Hadley. He explained that he made this up to make himself a better witness for the State at Smith's trial in hopes of receiving a reduced sentence in exchange for his testimony. Pursuant to a postconviction motion, Roundtree's murder conviction and sentence were vacated in December 2004. Roundtree pled guilty to conspiracy to commit Hadley's murder, based on his admission that he tried to locate Hadley for Smith. Roundtree was sentenced to nine years in prison, with credit for time served, and was released.