La Plata, MD – One can only hope that Victor Jones realizes what a true friend he has in Ricardo Anthony Davis, because Davis is facing some serious jail time on his behalf.
Davis, 47 of Washington, DC, was convicted in 2013 in Charles County Circuit Court of attempted first-degree murder and a slew of other charges, including escape, in the stabbing of two men at World of Wings in Waldorf Nov. 6, 2012.
Davis is appealing his case in a weeklong trial that began Monday, July 13 and has stretched into July 17.
It’s a trial that’s had a little of everything.
A crucial piece of evidence is a video of a video taken on the investigating officer’s iPhone.
One of two the victims in the case is now incarcerated in South Carolina.
His testimony from the first trial was read in court like parts in a play by Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse, Assistant Public Defender Michele Harewood and Charles County Circuit Court Judge Helen I. Harrington, with Andre Bruce of the state’s attorney’s office reading the testimony of the incarcerated victim, testimony gleaned from the previous 2013 trial.
While it made for good theatre, the victim’s incarceration will not be revealed to the jury, despite efforts by public defenders Harewood and David Rangaviz to have that knowledge exposed.
On Wednesday, Harrington ruled the information not admissible.
The whole scenario has its beginnings at World of Wings in Waldorf in November of 2012.
Davis and his friend Jones showed up to hear a band, as did Ray Kline and Thomas Campbell.
Kline and Campbell were drinking, and allegedly smashed a glass on the table where Davis and Jones were sitting. While Campbell attempted to quell the response of the two men at the table, Kline—as clearly shown, even in the fuzzy video—came around Campbell and slugged Jones three times in the face.
Davis, a much shorter man than either of the two victims, produced a switch blade knife and stabbed Campbell in the neck.
Although Campbell testified under oath that he only had one drink, he was apparently inebriated enough to not realize he had been stabbed. He told the court that as he left the building he was confronted by the bouncer who, “Asked me if I was okay.
“”I said, ‘yeah man, I’m fine,’ ” Campbell stated. “He said, ‘No you’re not, you’re bleeding.’ I walked out where the light was brighter and I saw I was covered in blood.”
Davis allegedly followed Kline to the entrance and stabbed him in the back of the head.
In addition to the information regarding Kline’s incarceration, the judge has not allowed the jury to know that the two men’s state of intoxication. It was a tough ruling for the defense, clearly frustrated that the information would not be entered into evidence.
Harrington sided with the state on those points, inferring that it wasn’t that the defendant came to the aid of his friend, it was the manner in which he chose to do it. Using a deadly weapon in the process, she inferred, Davis crossed the line of the law.
When officers went back to World of Wings to obtain the full video which the detective video-taped the night before, they were able to get 50 minutes of video.
The clip the detective recorded on his iPhone was not among the over 50 minutes of footage.
Det. Shankster of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said he never intended for his phone recording to become the main piece of evidence in the case, but it was.
The two sides began closing arguments Friday afternoon, where the jury is expected to get the case and begin their deliberations.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com
