Preliminary Hearing Set For Darius Miles; Attorneys Request Bond Hearing

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A preliminary hearing date has been set in the capital murder case of a former Alabama basketball player accused in the shooting death of a 23-year-old Birmingham woman on Grace Street near The Strip on Sunday.

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According to the latest filing is Tuscaloosa County District Court on Thursday, the preliminary hearing for Darius Miles is scheduled for Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. in front of District Judge Joanne E. Jannik. The hearing will take place at the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Miles, 21, and 20-year-old Michael Lynn Davis of Charles County, Maryland are both charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Jamea Harris following a minor altercation on The Strip near the UA campus in the early morning hours Sunday.

The Turner Law Group is now representing Miles and has requested a bond hearing, citing that the former UA basketball player has no prior criminal record, is not a flight risk and would submit to monitoring by Tuscaloosa Community Corrections.

Both Miles and Davis were jailed without bond on the capital charges, due to firing into an occupied vehicle during the fatal shooting.

As Patch reported earlier on Thursday, Miles has changed his legal counsel after initially releasing a statement through one law firm professing his innocence to the accusations. This statement, however, was released prior to the revelation by police that Miles had admitted to investigators that he had provided the gun to Davis that was used in the fatal shooting.

The Turner Law Group told Patch that Miles was not aware of the initial statement released and provided its own statement on behalf of their client.

"Darius, his family, and all of us at Turner Law Group first and foremost want to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Jamea Jonae Harris," the statement says. "This is a tragic and sad situation and our hearts go out to all of those who have been hurt by her death. Darius is distraught over this situation and deeply saddened by the death of Ms. Harris."

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The Tuscaloosa law firm also said Miles is "saddened" by any negative light shed on the University of Alabama, his coaches, his teammates and his family, all of whom have been positive influences in his life.

"Darius and his family appreciate all who have shown their concern, offered prayers and tried to help him during this difficult time and asks that all keep Ms. Harris’s loved ones in your prayers," the law firm said. "In light of statements made by the media and other people who were not present or otherwise have a personal interest in the outcome of this case that are contrary to the limited evidence previously released by local law enforcement, we encourage everyone to withhold judgment."

Both men have had their initial appearances in court and remain in the Tuscaloosa County Jail without bond.

As Patch previously reported, both Miles and Davis were identified as suspects after a vehicle pulled up to a University of Alabama Police vehicle at the Walk on Champions Sunday morning around 1:45 a.m.

The driver of the vehicle stopped for help and informed police that he had been shot at on Grace Street and returned fire, hitting someone in the opposite vehicle. No word has been given as to if the other shooting, who supposedly fired in self defense, will face any charges in connection to Harris' death.

Harris had been sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle when she was struck by gunfire and died before receiving medical treatment.

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