Efforts made to protect identity of another witness

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

SOUTHFIELD — The recorded statements a murder witness made to police just prior to his own murder will be permitted in court, according to 46th District Court Judge Susan Moiseev’s ruling Nov. 18.

The man — allegedly an eyewitness to the Aug. 9 beating death of Robert Alexander, 33, at a Southfield jazz club — was murdered in Detroit less than a month after the incident. His statements will be heard in the case against Eiland Johnson, 38, Darnell Cooley, 33, and Deandre Woolfolk, 20, accused of Alexander’s murder.

Investigators allege that on Aug. 9, Alexander was celebrating his birthday at Arturo’s Jazz Theatre and Restaurant in Southfield when a fight broke out between his party and a group containing the three defendants, resulting in Alexander’s death.

The brawl apparently began after a female friend of Alexander reported that men from the other group had harassed her. Alexander died after being struck by a glass bottle and a rope stanchion, police said.

The trio of defendants appeared in court Nov. 18 along with their attorneys, Steven Scharg, Steven Fishman and Paul Curtis, respectively. They will return on Dec. 9 for the culmination of a preliminary hearing before Moiseev that decides whether there is probable cause to bind the case over to Oakland County Circuit Court.

Statements from another witness — whose identity the court has ordered to remain confidential for his safety and the protection of his family — will also be admitted into evidence at the next hearing by Oakland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Hall.

“(The court) was concerned about the identity of this individual and his physical safety,” Fishman said. “His family may have been in jeopardy. The court issued an order to not disclose any information or the identity of the person.”

But Moiseev and the attorneys expressed outrage regarding a recent Detroit News article that detailed the case and included direct quotes and information from the so-called informant, whose name was not mentioned.

“Obviously, the release of that information (to the reporter) — it’s disturbing to the court and certainly jeopardizes the ability of the justice system to function,” Moiseev said. “Hopefully, we can preserve the integrity of the process from this point forward.”

A written order was to be drafted and signed by the judge and attorneys in an effort to prevent future leaks, although both sides defended the other of any wrongdoing.

“Mr. Hall had nothing to do with leaking the information,” Fishman said.

“There is no doubt that the defendants and the defense attorneys had nothing to do with it,” Hall said. “(It is) quite shocking to me that this happened.”

You can reach Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1108.