Opinion ID: 860809
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Moses Dabney and Jason Phalo were convicted for the murder of Eddie Wilson, Jr., which took place on December 31, 1993. The evidence showed that Dabney, age fifteen at the time, Phalo, and two other individuals were riding around the City of Jackson on the afternoon of December 31 when Phalo decided to steal a Chevrolet Blazer from the parking lot of Electric City on I-55 Frontage Road in Jackson. Phalo jimmied the window, stole the Blazer, and drove it off the parking lot. Eddie Wilson, Jr., the owner of the Blazer, saw the Blazer being driven away and asked Tye Carney, a coworker, to drive him and follow the Blazer. Carney agreed, and the two gave chase until Phalo stopped for a red light at the corner of North State Street and Northside Drive. When Phalo stopped, Dabney jumped into the Blazer. Carney pulled his vehicle in front of the Blazer to block it, and Wilson got out of Carney's car and ran over to the Blazer, opening the driver's door. Carney testified that as he was turning his car around, he heard at least three gunshots and saw Wilson slumping over. He then stated that he saw two young black males in the Blazer. Wilson died as the result of a gunshot wound from a .380 caliber weapon. State witness Curtis Rhone, one of the individuals riding with Phalo and Dabney before the Blazer was stolen, was in a car directly behind the Blazer. He testified that Dabney was in the vehicle with him, and then Dabney got into the passenger side of the Blazer at the stop light. He stated that when Wilson attempted to pull Phalo out of the Blazer, Phalo kicked at the door. Rhone then heard a shot being fired from the Blazer and then saw Wilson duck and run in front of the Blazer. Rhone testified that Phalo and Dabney exited the Blazer while Dabney fired several shots at Wilson. Rhone stated that he did not see Phalo with a gun. State witnesses Jewell Davis, Clara Davis, and Arthur Davis were at the intersection when the incident occurred. Jewell and Clara Davis were in the same vehicle. Arthur Davis was in a vehicle with his son and a friend. Each testified that they saw Dabney firing at Wilson and did not see Phalo shoot, but Clara Davis and Jewell Davis testified that the taller of the two men, which was Phalo, had a gun in his hand when he was running from the scene. However, Clara Davis stated that the person whom she saw running away from the crime scene with a gun was wearing plaid. Dabney was wearing a plaid shirt on the day of the shooting, and his plaid shirt was turned over to the police by Phalo's mother. Mamie Hardges, another State witness, stated that she concentrated on the driver of the Blazer (Phalo) and saw him with a gun while he was still inside the Blazer. She saw him get out of the Blazer with a gun and she saw him fire the gun at Wilson. Hardges was about five or six feet away from Phalo after Phalo exited the Blazer. Hardges positively identified Phalo from a photo lineup.