Testimony in Markeith Loyd’s first-degree murder trial resumes Saturday at the Orange County Courthouse. Loyd is on trial for the 2016 murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, 24-year-old Sade Dixon. He’s also accused of killing Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton while he was on the run in January 2017. He will go on trial in that case next year.Before testimony resumed Saturday morning, the judge addressed an issue with a juror that had been brought to the court Friday. A juror was caught lying about her employment status, and then it was later determined that she failed to disclose a prior arrest. The judge removed the juror from the case and the first alternate was added. The judge noted that the alternate who replaced her is an African American man, so the while the racial composition of the jury remains unchanged, the gender composition has changed. During testimony on Friday, Dixon’s brother Ronald Steward took the stand. Steward was hurt, but survived the shooting that killed his sister. He told the jury Loyd pulled a gun when he tried to get them to start arguing.”He held it up and before he did that I was like it’s not that serious, bro. And I had my hands up like this,” Steward said, motioning with his hands in the air.Loyd’s defense gave a detailed account of how Dixon’s family didn’t like him. In part, the defense said Sade Dixon had antagonized Loyd and told him he wouldn’t be able to see the baby.Defense attorney Terry Lenamon claims that was when she grabbed a gun and pulled it on Loyd before dropping it.”When he sees the gun, he pulls his two guns out,” Lenamon said. The defense claimed that Loyd pulled the trigger but the gun didn’t fire.According to attorneys, Dixon’s brother then tackled Loyd, causing him to start shooting.”He knows that he lost the gun, and he starts shooting. And shooting. And shooting. And shooting,” Lenamon said.Jurors will be sequestered at a hotel for the duration of the trial. The jurors cannot discuss the case with family or employers, but they were allowed to tell them they’ve been seated. The trial, including the penalty phase, could last up to six weeks.
Testimony in Markeith Loyd’s first-degree murder trial resumes Saturday at the Orange County Courthouse.
Loyd is on trial for the 2016 murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, 24-year-old Sade Dixon. He’s also accused of killing Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton while he was on the run in January 2017. He will go on trial in that case next year.
Before testimony resumed Saturday morning, the judge addressed an issue with a juror that had been brought to the court Friday. A juror was caught lying about her employment status, and then it was later determined that she failed to disclose a prior arrest.
The judge removed the juror from the case and the first alternate was added. The judge noted that the alternate who replaced her is an African American man, so the while the racial composition of the jury remains unchanged, the gender composition has changed.
During testimony on Friday, Dixon’s brother Ronald Steward took the stand. Steward was hurt, but survived the shooting that killed his sister. He told the jury Loyd pulled a gun when he tried to get them to start arguing.
“He held it up and before he did that I was like it’s not that serious, bro. And I had my hands up like this,” Steward said, motioning with his hands in the air.
Loyd’s defense gave a detailed account of how Dixon’s family didn’t like him. In part, the defense said Sade Dixon had antagonized Loyd and told him he wouldn’t be able to see the baby.
Defense attorney Terry Lenamon claims that was when she grabbed a gun and pulled it on Loyd before dropping it.
“When he sees the gun, he pulls his two guns out,” Lenamon said. The defense claimed that Loyd pulled the trigger but the gun didn’t fire.
According to attorneys, Dixon’s brother then tackled Loyd, causing him to start shooting.
“He knows that he lost the gun, and he starts shooting. And shooting. And shooting. And shooting,” Lenamon said.
Jurors will be sequestered at a hotel for the duration of the trial. The jurors cannot discuss the case with family or employers, but they were allowed to tell them they’ve been seated. The trial, including the penalty phase, could last up to six weeks.
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