Opinion ID: 2982626
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cory Thomas and Paul Woods.

Text: Manchester inmates Cory Thomas and Paul Woods testified similarly regarding information that Gravley allegedly had told them about Peterson’s murder. According to them, Gravley said “that Mr. Peterson had—had disrespected the Bloods by saying, ‘F the Bloods’ or whatever.” (PageID # 2105 (Thomas); accord 2163-64 (Woods) (“Well, it started off when [Gravley] had informed me that Peterson had said, ‘Fk’—excuse me. . . . Is it okay to say that? . . . He explained that Peterson had said, ‘F Bloods.’”).) In retaliation, they testified, Gravley ordered Milburne to assault Peterson: Lawyer: Did [Gravley] tell you who was also in the cell and perhaps even before Mr. Peterson came into the cell? Thomas: All he kept saying was his little brother. He said it was his little brother that was in the cell with him. ... Lawyer: Did he ever identify by name? Thomas: Milburne. ... Lawyer: Now, did you understand that to mean that Mr. Milburne was his true younger brother? Thomas: Yes. He did say that. Lawyer: Well, by true younger brother, I mean with the same parents. Thomas: Oh. No. I knew that it was his—his Blood brother, as far as his gangrelated brother. Lawyer: Can you explain a little bit more of what that means, in terms of the Blood gang and a little brother. Thomas: It is—it is like he is the big brother and Milburne’s the little brother. So, basically, he is the shot caller and if he is, you know, to pass down an order, that Milburne has to follow it. Lawyer: Did he tell you whether or not he, Mr. Gravley, gave the order or the shot call to Mr. Milburne? Thomas: Yes. Lawyer: What did he say? Thomas: He was just like he had gave the order. Because Mr. Milburne was going to get rank with the Bloods; that’s how he earned his stripes with the Bloods to become a lieutenant. - 12 - Case No. 11-6123 United States v. Gravley Lawyer: If Milburne did what? Thomas: Assaulted Peterson. … Lawyer: Where was Mr. Peterson when Mr. Gravley gave the nod? Thomas: He was sitting on top of the toilet. Lawyer: And who did Mr. Gravley give the nod to? Thomas: Milburne. Lawyer: And once he gave that nod, did he then tell you what happened? Thomas: He—they put him in a headlock and just beat him, was punching on him and stuff. Lawyer: Did Mr. Gravley— Thomas: —stomping on him. Lawyer: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cut you off. Thomas: And stomping on him and—and punching him and just choking him and stuff. ... Lawyer: Okay. Did Mr. Gravley mention anything about a shirt, placing it somewhere on— Thomas: To stop Mr. Milburne from—from hearing the screaming, that Mr. Mil—I mean, Mr. Peterson was screaming. Lawyer: Okay. Thomas: They placed a shirt in his mouth. Lawyer: And to stop him from? Thomas: Screaming and being heard. (PageID # 2105-11; accord 2163-66 (Woods).) Woods also testified that Gravley told him that Crawford, the third inmate, “participated in [the assault] by kicking [Peterson].”