Defense Attorneys Respond After Motion To Dismiss Denied For Darius Miles

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Defense attorneys for former Alabama basketball player and capital murder suspect Darius Miles say they are still confident in their client's chances at trial following Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet denying a motion to dismiss the charge against Miles.

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As Patch reported on Thursday, Pruet denied the motion after a pre-trial immunity hearing for Miles held over three days in August and September, with evidence presented by the defense relating to elements of self-defense in the case.

Miles is accused of providing the handgun used by Maryland native Michael Lynn Davis in the shooting death of 23-year-old Birmingham mother Jamea Harris the morning of Jan. 15

The Turner Law Group, the Tuscaloosa firm representing Miles, insists that he was scared for his safety after seeing a gun passed from Harris to her boyfriend Cedric Johnson as they sat in Harris's Jeep off of University Boulevard. This occurred during an alleged verbal interaction between Johnson and Davis — a longtime friend of Miles and the co-defendant in the capital murder case.

The capital murder cases against the two men are being tried separately, with Davis set to have his pre-trial immunity hearing in December.

ALSO READ: Court Transcripts Bring Self-Defense Case For Darius Miles Into Focus

Following the latest hearing, Judge Pruet considered all of the evidence presented relating to arguments of self-defense and issued an order saying that the defense failed to provide adequate testimony and evidence to prove that Miles acted in self-defense when he provided Davis with his legally owned handgun in the moments prior of the shooting that left Harris dead.

ALSO READ: Bama Basketball Shooting Latest: Video Evidence Illuminates Tragedy

Turner on Friday also filed a renewed motion for bond to be granted to Miles.

In the filing, the Turner Law Group points out that the state in no longer seeking the death penalty in the case and that Miles has relatives who live in Tuscaloosa County.

As was the case when defense attorneys sought bond for Miles in May, the Turner Law Group also said Miles is not a flight risk and his family will pay for an ankle monitor.

Miles also said he would agree to be monitored by Tuscaloosa Community Corrections.

“We are disappointed in the Court’s ruling, but we remain confident that once a jury hears all of the facts in this case they will agree that Darius was in fear for his life that night," defense attorney Mary Turner told Patch following Judge Pruet's latest order. "We continue to pray for all families involved, and remain steadfast in our defense of Darius Miles.”

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