Boyfriend of Grand Rapids murder victim testifies in her alleged killer's murder trial

Mr next witness. Yes, good afternoon, sir. Please raise your right hand. You sort of tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth up to God. Thank you. Have a seat. Please go ahead, Miss. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon. Can you please tell us your name and spell it for the record? My name Omar Damon O ma R last name Da Dannah. Thank you. Uh Mr Dana. How old are you? 24. Are you from the Grand Rapids area? Yes, ma'am. Uh Do you still live in the Grand Rapids area? Yes, ma'am. Do you have any Children? Yes. How many? Three? And do you know Maya Kelly? Yes, ma'am. How did you know her kid? 22 of my kids. I have two kids with her. That's my baby mother. And what are the ages of the two Children that you had with my um five and four. How long were you in a relationship with May and Kelly? Uh 56 y six y five years, six years. Um and up around this on the screen, I'm gonna show you a photograph that's already been admitted in this trial since people's exhibit blind. Who is this in the photo? That's her? That's my, you and you said you were in a relationship with her? About 5 to 6 years? Were you in a relationship with her? On the day of her death? On December 26th? Yes, I was, were you present at the home when she was shot and killed? Yes, I was. Who else was there? Our kids? What were you all doing that day? Watching a movie? Do you remember approximately what time of the day or night is the place? 949? And what makes you say 949? Because I have my phone in my hand. Uh, can you just describe to the jury? Give them an idea of, you know, where you were at in the house, what you were all doing, you know, before 9:49 p.m. Um, right before nine for right before, around that time, uh, I was upstairs, she was, uh, and her friend was there. She had a friend over, uh, they was downstairs. Uh, I can't really tell you what they were doing. I was upstairs, I was with my son and, um, we were just watching youtube videos and then, uh, she had text me at about 930 and told me to come downstairs and, and watch TV. Heard I told her no, because her friend was there and I didn't want to be in their face and then she said she left and then. So I came downstairs with my son. So before you came downstairs, may I just had a female friend over what were they doing? Staying out or? Ok. So you come downstairs around 930? What happens? Then? He was a, we was debating on what movie we was trying to, we was gonna watch, you know what movie you were gonna watch? Yes. And did you decide on a movie? Yeah. Take, yeah. What was it? It was, uh, baddies. I wasn't really watching it though. Were your kids with you? Were they in the living room with you? Yes, often. Now. Yes. So did you actually start the movie? Did you get to that point or had the movie not even started? Yeah, she has started. So what happened then? I actually did kind of like the show. It was straight and she was, uh, we was talking about it. I was asking her stuff because I didn't really know about it. So then my kids, they was in front of us on a tablet. Oh. Mhm. Yeah. We, something that came up on it and then we got to laughing about it. And, um, that's when a knock had happened. Some, somebody knocked on the door. I didn't hear it at first because I was laughing. We was laughing but she heard it, I guess so. Then she says it might not, might not. Yeah, they knocked again and then she went to the door. How would you describe the? Not just so the jury has a good idea of that. Was it loud? Was it not loud? How would you describe the, the first one wasn't loud because I didn't hear it. The second one was just hear. Uh, did you hear any voices at that time? No, not with the, no, no, I'm sorry, not with the knock. No, I just have to make sure you speak loud and a OK, so they can hear you. Ok. Uh So what happened? Then you said, Maya went to answer the door. Can you please tell us what happened? Then? She, she asked who was it? And then uh it was like some mumble words. I don't know who it was. I didn't hear, I didn't, it wasn't a f I didn't hear, no, I didn't hear a familiar voice but Maya did. She, she actually said, who is it? Were those her words? And you said that there was a voice that responded? Yes. Did you recognize that voice? No, I did not recognize your voice. Did it sound to male or female? I don't know, I didn't recognize like it wasn't like, I don't know. Um Can you tell us the best um of your memory? What, what were the words being said? Did you understand any of it? Mm It's, it's whatever it was, say, it's somebody but like it was like it's, and then it said something like m some type of mobile name. I don't know. Or something like that. I don't know. I can't really, it wasn't, it was like, I couldn't make it out for real. I just heard them talking. So you did not recognize the voice, did you know who it was at that time? So, you told us already that Maya originally said, who's there or who is it? Um, did she say anything else to that person? And they had a conversation? She said, who is it again? She was like who? And then what did the other person say? They mumbled some, no, I couldn't hear those words. No. And what happened? Nuts. She looked at me and said, she thought it was her brother. She like this. She like Omar, there's gotta be Robert or somebody playing that. It's gotta be someone playing. Yeah. She named her brother. She was like, it's gotta be Robert or somebody playing. And in that voice, he said that you couldn't really understand the words. But was that voice on the other side of the door loud? No. Can, can you please help the jury understand the best you can? How did that voice sound? And by that, I mean, can you give any details? Was it soft spoken? Was it loud? Was it angry regular? Was there anything unusual about it weird about it? Yeah, because it was, wasn't recognizable. So that's weird because you had spoke to the officers about that voice before, right? Uh and you said it, it sounded weird. And so what did you mean by weird? Like, like somebody was trying to mimic a voice limit the voice. No good. So then Maya turns to you and says something about she thinks they're playing. What happens next? I heard the, the last word playing was like, cut off by shots. Like she barely got playing out. Where were your kids? When you heard the shots? My daughter was standing right next to her. My daughter walked to the door with her and my son was laying in, um, like laying on the floor right in front of me on his tablet. When Maya went towards the door, we're talking about the door. You talking about the front door when Maya went towards the door, did she ever open the door? Um, no. Was the door ever open? Did you ever tell an officer that the door was open? The door was never open, never opened. You said that Maya barely got the word out. They were, she thought someone was playing and that was the last thing you heard her say? And then you heard the shots. How many shots did you hear? 34? Just to be clear. Could you tell where they were coming from? Yes. Right. The front porch, the porch were those shots close in time? Were they spread out? Did it sound like they were from the same gun or different guns? Same. So it sounded like they were from the same job and they were close in time and there were 3 to 4 shots. What happens right after you hear those shots. It wasn't no, after it was as they shot, like as the first shot it was like, I just, I dove on my son and then I had ran towards Maya and my daughter like, and yeah, I looked up and she was, she dropped. Was she saying anything at that time? Nausea? Did you ever see anyone on the porch? No. Did you see anyone on the other side of the door? No. Did you ever look at the? No. Uh Did you ever get really close to the door? Oh, yeah, that's what I forgot to say. She looked through the people but she ain't seen nobody. I meant to say that and then, and then we started going to the door before she acts, who is it? She looked through the people and she didn't see any, she didn't see anybody. That's, that's, that's another thing that would, that, that I, I say was weird. That's another thing you said was weird. So by those are the people. You did not. So you said you, you went over to Maya, you kind of went over to your kids. Yeah, I do on my sim, I dove on my dove. I didn't die on my daughter but like I snatched her down quick. And what did you do with your kids, I ran, uh, RT stuff, them in the closet. I mean, put them in the closet because somebody was shooting. So, did you have any idea who it was at that moment? No. Do you know whether or not that shooter left or if the shooter was still there? I wouldn't, I, I don't know. Now, did you ever look out the window or the blinds? Um, yeah, after, but right after the shots were fired, did you see anyone in the area? No. Did you see anyone on foot? No. Did you see anyone running away? No. So back on December 26th, you did not see who shot? I am. No. So what happened then uh you told, you told us that you took your kids and you put them in the closet? What happened next? I went back to work. Oh uh this is trying to help for it. What, what did you do? What did you try to do? I was like grab, you know, just trying to talk to her, grab her, see where she was actually here at? Well, I kinda, I knew where she was here. I was just, I was just trying to help her. And how did you know where she was in? I saw it and after the shots after my shot, did she say anything to you at all? No, she was just, no. What happened next? She was just shaking. She was just, just trying to fight I guess. And what did you do next? Did you call anyone go anywhere? What did you do? Yeah, I called the ambulance. I tried to call the ambulance for, but I end up hanging up because they were just like a, asking me too many questions and trying to get me to stay on the phone and my kids came out and they came out and they had, uh, walked, um, they was, you know, they were seeing their mom like that. So I, I took them somewhere else. They both came out because they were scared, they were screaming. So I took them upstairs instead of the closet. This time, I took them upstairs and put them in our room. And now you said they were scared of screening and so then at that time you take them upstairs and, and what happens? Then I put them in our room and then somebody else start knocking at the door. Do you know who that person was not at the moment when they was knocking? So when you went that night, what did you do? Uh I looked out the window first and I seen it was a girl and I asked who it was. So are you looking out the upstairs window or? Yes. Yes, because I was upstairs putting the keys in the, and I had just got up there and put them in the room. And so did you find out who that person was? Who was that it was our neighbor, the neighbor. And so then what did you do? I said, I said, what's up, what's up? Like, yo, I said, what's up? And she like, like I was, I was like, we like, we like what you, what do you want? Like, like, I need help and not really what you want. I was like, I was just kind of like asking her like, yeah, like as in, that's what I was meaning though like and then she was like, are you ok? And then I was like, yeah, I need you, I need you to help me. I need you to call the ambulance. I need you to get my kids because I couldn't talk. I was already on the phone with ambulance but I couldn't talk to them. They was asking for me questions. So and there was a lot going on at the moment. So I had to tell her to do that and they asked her to get my kids so I could finish helping my, that was just my biggest concern. So then you were asking the neighbor for help with your kids. Um Did they end up taking your kids? Yes. Can you please tell us about that? How did that happen? Well, I went downstairs after that. I was like, I need you to get my kids. I need to get my kids. I didn't tell her what happened. I didn't tell her that my because like, it just was still, like, I don't know, it was like going on. So I went downstairs, I opened the door for and I was just, I don't know, I just, I gave her, I gave, I gave her my kids but I was still kind of like, skeptical because I didn't know, like, I didn't know who, who was involved. I don't know who did, you know? So I kinda was skeptical and I, I tried to go over there with them but she was kind of like, I don't think she, she wasn't trusting me. I wasn't trusting her, you know. So I'm like the, I ended up, I was trying to like, I don't know, I, after she got my kids or whatever, I was asking her to take me to an ambulance or to an ambulance and she was like, why, why? Then she ended up looking and she seen my, she seen maya stressed, stressed out, then she, she just started screaming and going crazy and that's what just made me like, made my situation worse. You mean what the situation worse for me? Because that's what I was trying to prevent. I kinda already knew she was gone but I was still trying to have like faith or hope, hope, I guess so. Then did the police end up showing up? And were you there when the police arrived? Um, and then what happened, um, with you when police arrived? They put their gloves in, in our face. Um, and then were you placed into a police cruiser at that time and speaking with an officer on that day? Do you know of anyone who wanted to fire by us? No, not my ear? No. Do you know if anyone wanted to harm you? Not that I can name? Not by name. Do you know any names? No talking to the, to the police about this? You know, whether there was anyone who wanted to harm you or if you were having problems with anyone around that time when the police or the detectives like when they got me to the interrogation room that was talking about, yeah, they was asking me people they was asking me, did I know, do I know of any people and stuff like that? And what names did you get out? I didn't get, they was naming people for me like they was naming, they were named, they were like, do you think your cause because the incident had happened before a few days bef prior to this? And they were like, do you think your cousin had anything to do with it? Stuff like that? And I was just like, I, I really wasn't sure. So I I didn't want to say, oh yeah, this person did that. So I was like, I don't, I don't know who, who it could have been because when you were in the back of a cruiser, did that officer ask you about your cousin? Yes. Yeah, I remember him asking you if, uh, Tyrell was involved. Is that the cousin that you're referring to? Um, and at that time you said you don't know because I didn't know. I don't know. And so then you just mentioned something that happened the days before or the week before. What were you talking about? Uh, my, my cousin had got in some, uh, some trouble or whatever, I guess or whatever. I don't know what happened. I wasn't there but I know that I was, I was there but I wasn't there like I wasn't there when he showed up, but like, I guess something happened. Uh and by the, I got the call for my girl to get home because she said my cousin was hurt. I got there, you know, and when I got there, the police had like a few minutes after I got there, the police were surrounding the house. So I never really got to know what exactly happened, what he, what he, what was done or what. I don't know what happened. So I just know he got the house, the house got surrounded and they end up making us all come out and he ended up being locked up. So the house got surrounded the house seven. is that the incident that took place on December 19th? So on December 19th, your cousin Terrell got arrested from 47 P is Terrell's last name Franklin. What's his nickname or street name? I don't, I don't know. Do you go by brows? I don't know. And so that back on December 19th, uh, were you at 47 came in at some point on that day? And so before that day, really let me rephrase that. Um, you said that Tyra is your cousin, my blood? So that's a biological blood cousin. And so before December 19th, how would you describe your relationship with Terra? Was it good? Was it not we cousins? We just c it was like, yeah, we, yeah, we cut, we cut, I mean you guys for cousins, you hung out before he, he would come over to 47 Canton, hang out play games. So before December 19th, you were on good terms which were up and then uh do you remember if there was a conversation with Terrell on December 19th? That was not so good. We just arguing about the night. We just argue. I was mad at the fact that I don't know what he did or what had happened. I was just mad at the fact that he got that he got the house around it. So we arguing about that and I'm, you know, so that that's yeah, we basically got off, got off on bad times right there. So without getting into all the details, the underlying details, but on December 19th, you had some conversation with Terrell. It was not so good. It was not pleasant. Correct. So then on December 26th of 2022 on the day of the shooting were on good terms with Terrell. No. Do you know where Jal was on December 26? He was in jail. We were just, we basically, yeah, that's why I said because the 19th he got locked up and he ain't make bail or nothing. So I can't say we was on good terms because we never really got to talk it out or make up. But I mean, before December 19th, you and chill are pretty good after December 19th. Not so good. Um, on the day I was shot or during the previous week, you know, really focusing on that week in December, you know, was there any accusations that you or Maya had snitched that up? Yeah, you know, regular objective slightly. I think we need to have a sidebar so I'm not sure exactly where we're going with all this but 182. Oh, there you go. Miss Kirkoff. Do you wanna make an objection or statement for the court? Yes, I do object on the basis of relevance. I hope for a while, but now we're getting so far field. It's not even funny. Uh, there was absolutely nothing during the investigation regarding this and to now, you know, try to lead this, uh, this witness and just say, ok, yeah, maybe I had a fight with some other guy that just does not, it isn't relevant to what we're here for today. Uh, I'm gonna give the prosecutor some latitude, uh, on this matter. I think she's trying to develop a theory, uh, possibly related to motive and I'll let her do that. Go ahead. Thank your honor. Uh, Mr Dean. I believe my question was, you know, focusing on the day that my shot of that previous week. Did anyone accuse you or my, uh, snitching on Terrell about something who accused you of that? He thought we told on it. He thought, he thought, he thought we snitched on him. Nobody snitched. So Terrell thought either you or my snitched on him and he told me that about the December 19th incident. Do you know fiance numer? No. Do you know someone that goes by the name there? We, we like around what time frame I now. So I sit there right now now you, so that the person that goes by the name K Man? Is that person in the courtroom? Yeah. Where's the app? Can you tell me something he's wearing, uh, the, but, but, um, yeah, where is he seated at next to, uh, the old man? Ok. Just so we're talking, was it Ta Ta? Ok. You know, just so just, you know, someone named Tay Man that goes by Taman. Not before I just learned that, but you do now to the courts. Ok. And is Ta Man in the courtroom? Yes. All right. What's he wearing ugly button up shirt and he's sitting next to the old man at the defense table. He's identified the defendant. Thank you. Now, you know, this man over here is a, so how did, how did you meet him or how do you know the defendant? I don't know him. So, have you met him before? Uh, possibly if so I didn't, uh, yeah, I met him before. Who did you meet him through? I just seen him around with my, uh with my cousin before. Nothing serious. So you've seen the defendant with, that's it. Is that how you met that? Were you ever on good terms with the defendant? We didn't, we didn't speak. So it's not like he hung out with the, I never hung out with him. I just saw him before. Yes. So on December 26th of 2022 the day that Maya was shot and killed. Uh Were you on good terms or bad terms with the defense? I don't know that man never had any problems with that before. I don't know that man was there a time that you had a not so pleasant interaction with the defendant? Um at 47 camps. I don't know him. I never had no problem with him. What was there a time that you had an interaction with him at this point? I think we've established, I think what you need to establish. He's already asked to answer. He says, I don't know the man he's not familiar with, he's never a conversation with him. So I think you need to move on. I three times, you know, you have a statement to impeach him with, you can try to him with a statement. Thank you. So Mr Dean, I'm just gonna show you a portion of a statement that you gave to Detective Sean Wolf, ok? At this point, I'm just gonna ask you to look at it, read it to yourself. OK? Really? Just this paragraph right here. You could read more or less if you want, but at least that paragraph. Oh, good. Yes. Uh What about it? I'm sorry. What about it? So did you have a chance to read that? Uh Do you remember saying that to the detective? Uh and without getting into all the details of it, first of all, do you remember saying that to the detective? I would like to know what she's refreshing. Well, if you could Yeah, let him know or you can go up there and review it. Why don't you show him, show him what you're talking about here, Mr OK. Made the black. I did show it to Mr OK. Very good. Thank you. So Mr Dana, did you have a chance to read what I just showed you? Yes, ma'am. Do you remember that conversation with Detective Wolf? I remember something similar to that. Yeah. And so without getting into all the details, uh did you tell detectives that you saw the defendant with Terrell on December 11th? No, I did what I did not cannot talk. Just, just not quite yet. I don't know what the statement says. I don't have it. Did you review the statement? Yes. Does it say that you saw the defendant with Correll on December 12? No, I said, I said I did not see that face. That, that face had a, I didn't see who that was. I didn't know who that was because they had a mask on. And you didn't say in here that you thought it was. No, they asked me did. I think it was him because I said, I don't know, I just see the person had a mask on and they, uh, and I could see a tattoo, but I don't, I said, I specifically said, I'm not gonna say that that's him because I'm not for sure. I'm not gonna accuse nobody of doing something they didn't do, that's doing my words. And it says that right there too. But you have seen Tayman, the defendant would Terrell on a number of occasions, correct? On a number of occasions. Not a number of occasions. More than one, I don't even think it was more than one. I don't even know. I, I think it was just once that I saw them together and it was just a normal date. Mr David, you knew that tall and the defendant were close, right? Yeah. They friends. OK. Wait a minute, I'm gonna, you know, my client, your honor saw you once. How can you say whether my client was close with somebody? I agree. There's no foundation for that. If you wanna try to lay a foundation, Mr bet that's fine. I think we need to move on though. Go ahead. That was going to be my next question. If he's saying that they're close. I mean, what is he basing that on? Uh It should be the other way around your eye. But if he didn't know my client, when he saw my life, once, he's not in a position to say who's who my client's friends with. Do, do you know uh the extent of the relationship between Terrell and this gentleman? Do you know how close they were? I, I knew, I knew my, I don't know, I just knew, I knew my cousin was gay and I heard he was gay. So I thought they were sleeping with each other. That's all I knew. I only seen him one time. Ok. You only saw him one time. That's it. We're moving on to a different subject, Mr Provide. And so when detective was speaking with you, Mr Dana, yeah, you end up talking about, you know, when you talking about people who may want to harm you or who are mad at you on that day. Did you talk about anybody else? Anybody else far as who that wanted to harm you or that was abandon you on December 26th of 2022. Besides Tyrell Franklin. Besides Tyrell Franklin. I said, I don't, I don't recall. I don't even recall. I don't, I don't think I said nobody. We didn't talk about L A. Um, we, yeah, we had our differences but he didn't, I didn't, I told him I didn't think he, I don't, I don't, I don't remember. I don't remember. I was kinda intoxicated that day. Do you know Marquis Welch? Uh I think he goes by the street name or nickname Left Black. Yes. No, I never heard of Black but uh yeah, I've seen Marquis Welch around before. So I'm sorry, you said you see Marquis around before? How do you know Marquis watch just seeing them around? Like, like you just like, uh it's like you just, you just see people, I've just seen them around because I can't really tell you like, like I'm not saying we friends or I, I've hung with them. I just see them around and so on December 26th or 2022. Were you on good terms or bad terms with him? How would you describe that? No terms? It wasn't, no, it was no, just no terms. When you said you see Marquis around. Have you ever seen Marquis Walch around with the defendant? No, you've never seen that together. No. So based on your, you know, personal knowledge of everything that was going on on December 26th of 2022. Um based on what you know, was Maya the intended target of the shooting. I'm gonna object your honor. I just think that is gross speculation sustained. Thank you, Mister. Ok, Mr N for sir. Ok. Square off. Do you have some questions for this witness? Did you or Maya snitch on tall? No. And after Terrell got arrested, you spoke to him at the jail a number of times, didn't you? Yes. And you found out that it wasn't that he found out it wasn't you or Mike, correct? Through these uh conversations that you didn't snitch on. Right? I told him I didn't tell him. So there was no reason for him to be managed. Was it? He was still managed? Yeah, but you knew that you need to switch projection, asked and answers. Go ahead and answer the question, sir. He was the old man and you did talk to him a number of times when he was in jail and I know a number of times we spoke many times. We spoke once just once and before December 26 you had no idea who this individual was. Died before December 26th. He only learned his name and his nickname afterwards right after the shooting II, I saw him around before, but you didn't know where he was. Did you by name? No. And going back to December 26th. Well, you remember justifying earlier in the same manner. Correct. Yeah. Wait, wait, what you mean? And when the, there was a knock at the door you were gonna go to the door. But my aunt told you not to remember that. Yes. And why did she tell you not to? Because, uh, I was out on bond and wasn't supposed to be over there, she thought it might be the police and therefore you shouldn't be answering the door. Right? Yeah. And you're not supposed to be there, correct? Yeah. And despite that, you were there almost every night. Mantra. Yup. No, you don't remember telling the additional officer that, uh, she opened the door. I never say she opened the door so that officer is wrong. No, I don't even think the officer said that. That was never never. All right. But you do remember telling the police that it was a weird voice, right? Great. Sounded like a white guy, right? I don't, do you remember? I didn't know, I don't think I saw that. I don't recall saying that you remember that or is he wrong? I said it was a real voice and you don't remember following that uncle say it was a white guy, saw like a white guy. I said it was a weird voice. I did not recognize the voice. You heard the officer desk or no, I'm sorry, you didn't, you weren't here. Um, ok. The police officer said that he said it was a weird voice. It sounds like a white male. That's wrong if I don't know what the police officer said, but I know what I said. You did not say anything about a white male. So I away from white male, I said, I get asked that question so many times that the answer keeps slightly changing because I keep saying it's a weird voice and y'all keep trying to ask me ways to make your voice sound like something. I don't know what the voice was. I did not recognize the voice. So if you ask me again, you're probably gonna get a different answer because I don't recognize the voice. I'm trying to get you to understand that. I further anything else for this witness, uh, from the prosecution? It, yeah, of course. Thank you. Uh, can this witness be excused? I think he wants to be an objection. Your excused, sir. Thank you very much. Ok.