Jamaul Herman enters a plea of not guilty Tuesday in Judge Rebecca Stern's courtroom. Herman is charged with murder in the 2010 shooting death of Jerome Timmons.The murder trial of a 29-year-old Chattanooga man resumes this morning and the lead investigator is expected to testify.
Jamaul Herman faces charges of first-degree murder, reckless endangerment and evading arrest in the July 4, 2010, shooting death of 31-year-old Jerome Timmons.
Chattanooga police Detective Karl Fields is scheduled to testify today. Herman's attorney, Mary Sullivan More, accused police of incompetence in this investigation during her opening statement Tuesday, the first day of the trial. She also said a group of men beat Herman with a baseball bat and brass knuckles, breaking his jaw.
The shooting happened on Glass Street outside the Palace nightclub.
Hamilton County Assistant District Attorneys Bret Alexander and Charlie Minor called two eyewitnesses Wednesday who said they saw Herman pull a pistol from his waistband, chase Timmons across the street and shoot him once in the head before fleeing.
Two female witnesses testified that an estimated crowd of 100 or more were milling around the parking lot of the Palace shortly after it closed. Fights erupted at different spots near the club sometime after 2 a.m., the women said.
Kosha Cosey testified on both Tuesday and early Wednesday, saying that she and fellow witness Darlene Battle saw Herman shoot Timmons, get into his car and drive away. The pair followed Herman and called 911, she said.
Police later found Herman driving near state Highway 58, where he stopped and fled on foot. Two officers found him hiding in bushes.
Both Timmons and Herman have extensive criminal histories, which include convictions on weapons, drug and assault charges.
The trial resumes today in Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern's courtroom.