Prosecution’s closing arguments in the case against Aubrey Berry
By Alex A. Alonso
STREETGANGS.COM STAFF WRITER
May 18, 2010 | 12:49 p.m.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Grace, 05-18-2010
Berry, who took the stand in his own defense, testified that Burton along with his two other friends had aggressively approached him after he had left the P.F. Chang’s China Bistro on May 18, 2009. In closing arguments, Grace relied on the testimony of Jose Molina, the parking attendant supervisor that witnessed the entire shooting. Grace told the jury to remember that Molina testified that Berry shot to the right, to the left and then back to the right. “Right, left, right,” Grace emphasized, telling the jury that this did not represent a man that was panicking or in fear for his life. Grace stated that the shot to pillar in the parking garage and two spent casings found next to Burton’s body, where he collapsed, proves that Berry shot to the left (south). “Right, left, right is all you need to know to come to the conclusion in this case,” Grace stated.
Grace then told the jury not to be swayed when defense argues what he calls, “red herrings” designed to take your attention away from the facts. Grace then showed a slide with the following words, “Mansfield, Scrap, DJ Shabazz, Buck, Gangsta, T Money, Marijuana, gangs signs, and tattoo” and told the jury that none of these caused Berry to shoot and kill Burton.
Grace also characterized two of the defense witnesses, Berry’s business associate that he was having lunch with at the restaurant and Paul Simon, Berry’s friend that he was with in Los Angeles, as liars. Both these witnesses had corroborated Berry’s claims of being intimidated and in fear of the Mansfields, a Los Angeles Crip gang,that according to Berry he learned about after he was assaulted in the club in Atlanta. Grace stated that there were too many inconsistencies in their testimony and that they can not be trusted. Grace explained that they, “created the entire Mansfield thing and that everything Berry has said about Mansfield is a bold face lie.”
Berry testified that he had been to Los Angeles at least 20 times and each time he was armed. Grace reminded the jury that every time Berry carried his weapon in Los Angeles he was breaking the law. Berry testified on Friday stating, “I carried my gun as often as often as I carried my cell phone,” and that’s the sign of aggression to kill someone, not a person concerned with self defense Grace explained. Grace admitted that our city does have a gang problem, but Berry was using that to his benefit and that it has nothing to do with shooting Burton.
While showing the cover of Dolla’s mix CD, Grace reminded the jury that Burton was a signed artist that had a right to rap about whatever he wanted to, and to reject the McCarthy type tactics of the defense of trying to link something as bad or evil though photographs or rap lyrics. Burton died a physical death that he never deserved and “throughout the trial he has been killed over and over again, Grace concluded.
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Parking attendant testifies in the trial of Aubrey Berry, accused killer of rapper Roderick “Dolla” Burton
[…] Abawi and Sylvers then noticed Burton running away to his right and returned fired. During cross examination, Deputy District Attorney Grace stated that it is this third volley of bullets that inflicts the two fatal wounds to Burton’s […]
the judge and jurors seems to be bias . the evidence is a clear as it gets the parking attendent saw every thing this aubrey was not in fear . i think dolla got it bad because people are ignorant against rappers and believe any thing they here abot rappers and he was a so called thug people are scared of bullies and they put dolla in the bully catagory. that is wrong i will say it again that is dead wrong . aubrey to me was the thug that is not self defence it could only be self defence if dolla had a gun they got into a fight but that has nothing to do with murder. people are ignorant about rappers . and i am tired of people saying thugs gangsters they k they are being put in a catagory and people are running around scared as if they are so perfect they are not perfect we all done wrong . STOP BLAMING PEOPLE FOR PROMBLEMS AND LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR AND THEM SEE IF IT IS PERFECTION.
the judge and jurors seems to be bias . the evidence is a clear as it gets the parking attendent saw every thing this aubrey was not in fear . i think dolla got it bad because people are ignorant against rappers and believe any thing they here abot rappers and he was a so called thug people are scared of bullies and they put dolla in the bully catagory. that is wrong i will say it again that is dead wrong . aubrey to me was the thug that is not self defence it could only be self defence if dolla had a gun they got into a fight but that has nothing to do with murder. people are ignorant about rappers . and i am tired of people saying thugs gangsters they k they are being put in a catagory and people are running around scared as if they are so perfect they are not perfect we all done wrong . STOP BLAMING PEOPLE FOR PROMBLEMS AND LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR AND THEM SEE IF IT IS PERFECTION.
the justice system is all messed up in some cases the devil willl try to get away with murder in this c ase
the justice system is all messed up in some cases the devil willl try to get away with murder in this c ase
WAS THE JUDGE OLD AND COULD HE HEAR IN THE COURT ROOM BECAUSE DOLLA WAS NEVER FOUND
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is great blog. An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.