Witness In Murder Trial Is Missing: Police Search Continues

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A key witness in a capital murder trial is missing, according to prosecutors in the trial of Verneil Wilson. Sulena Coleman, the ex wife of Wilson, was scheduled to testify in the trial.

Wilson, 42, was set to go on trial Monday in the July 5, 2017 shooting death of 32-year-old Adrian Lockett. Initially Wilson was charged with murder, and then that charge was upgraded to capital murder, according to an Alabama Media Group report. He is also charged with two counts of domestic violence assault for physical injury to Coleman.

The shooting happened shortly before 8:20 p.m. that Wednesday on 68th Street near Joppa Avenue in the Marks Village public housing community. Birmingham police said Wilson went to the home unannounced looking for his ex-wife

Wilson allegedly pulled his ex-wife out of the doorway of the apartment and forced his way inside. Wilson and Lockett then got into a physical altercation with each other. During the fight, police said Wilson pulled out a weapon and shot Lockett five times. Wilson then drove himself to the police headquarters on First Avenue North to surrender to police.

Prosecutors today requested, and were granted, a continuance in Wilson’s trial. One of the witnesses, who called 911 after seeing a man force his way into the apartment just before the shooting, had an unexpected illness and had to be hospitalized so therefore was unable to attend court. That neighbor is expected to testify when the case does go to trial.

“The state will continue to try and locate Sulena Coleman, serve her with a subpoena and have her come to court and testify in this trial in an effort to get justice for Adrian Lockett and his family,’’ said Jefferson County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joe Roberts.

A new trial date has been set for Oct. 7. Anyone with information on Coleman’s whereabouts is asked to call Roberts at 205-325-5252.