Andre Miles | Homicide Watch DC

Jury Begins Deliberations in Andre Miles Murder Trial

Amelia Rufer — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:47:41 -0500

A jury must now decide if Andre Miles killed Sandy Green III, after attorneys made their final arguments Wednesday.

"It's first degree [murder] because after shooting him four times, [Green] falls to the ground and [Miles] shoots him two more times in his back," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Liebman said. "And he carried [the gun] there and he carried it away, which is why the police didn't find it."

According to the government, Miles was dating Green's girlfriend's younger sister. Miles killed Green because Green told him to stay away from her, Liebman alleged.

But defense attorney Billy Ponds argued that Miles had no motive. He had multiple girlfriends at any given time, Ponds said. Miles would hardly have cared if he was told to stay away from just one of those girls.

"He's no killer, he's a lover," Ponds told jurors in his closing arguments Wednesday. "Charge him as guilty of being a serial dater."

Lawyers on both sides said the verdict hinges on which witnesses the jury believes.

Not one of Green's friends who were with Green when he was killed identified Miles as the shooter, Ponds said. But Leibman accused them of weakness.

"You've been witness to some incredible cowardice live on the stand: Keith Archie, Trey Jackson and Duane Page," the prosecutor said.

All three individuals testified that they never saw who shot their friend.

A YouTube clip that Leibman played featured Duane Page rapping in a music video discouraging people from snitching: "I never testify. I never take the stand. Yea, I live a crud life but I never speak my mind,"

"Is it really a surprise that Duane Page said, when he was in here testifying, that he didn't see anything?" Leibman asked.

Leibman compared their cowardice with Misty Gibson, who testified in spite fear for her family's lives. This fear was so great, Leibman said, that Gibson was willing to spend four days in jail and more than a week fleeing from court marshals to avoid taking the stand.

Misty Gibson testified Monday that she saw Andre Miles shoot Sandy Green III at the corner of 22nd Street and Savannah Street Southeast on April 30, 2012.

"Really this case is all about credibility of witnesses,” said Ponds, who argued that MPD's $25,000 reward was reason enough for Gibson to lie.

Gibson had been refusing to testify since she was subpoenaed to appear on December 1. She was held in contempt for several days and faced charges of criminal contempt, obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact.

When she finally testified, she told Ponds she didn't want the reward.

"You've been witness to an incredible act of courage, and that was Misty Gibson," AUSA Leibman told the jury Tuesday.

"That's her neighborhood. That's where she lives, and she's worried about her children, but she unequivocally told you who did it because she was there to see it," the prosecutor continued.

"If you can't find reasonable evidence to doubt what she’s saying, you're done. He's guilty."

Witness to Defense Attorney: "I saw your client walk up and shoot Sandy"

Imari Williams — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 18:09:24 -0500

On the witness stand, Misty Gibson reluctantly told jurors that on April 30, 2012, she witnessed Andre Miles shoot Sandy Green III at point-blank range.

"I seen Mr. Green get shot," Gibson testified. While driving, she saw two individuals with Green named "Blood" and "Fat back." "They were walking on the street and they were all together," Gibson said. She told jurors that she then saw someone approach Green and fire a gun at him.

"The shooter," she said, was Andre Miles, whom she referenced as "the light-skinned man sitting with defense."

Gibson appeared in court Monday and agreed to testify after refusing to take the stand for two weeks. A judge issued a bench warrant last week when Gibson failed to appear in court.

Miles is charged with first-degree murder and other weapons offenses linked to Green's death.

Prosecutors believe that Miles killed Green because of an argument over girlfriends and a shared living space.

Green was found suffering from two gunshot wounds to the back in the 2200 block of Savannah Street Southeast.

During cross examination, defense attorney Billy Ponds asked Gibson about the location of which the shooter approached Green.

Gibson replied: "I don't know."

Ponds continued to ask if the shooter came up behind Green or to the side of Green.

"If you're asking me if I saw your client walk up to Green, then yes, I saw your client walk up and shoot Sandy, whether it was front, back, or side," Gibson yelled, visibly frustrated. "I don't know, but I saw him shoot Green."

Ponds then asked Gibson about going through Green's pockets after he was shot.

"You making it seem like I'm trying to rob this man," Gibson said. "I'm the one who sat there and tried to save that man's life." She added that she only wanted to give the mother of Green's child his property.

Miles' defense attorney pointed out to Gibson that she initially lied to police and asked if she knew anything about a monetary award of $25,000 for information on the homicide

Gibson told the jurors: "I don't want no damn reward."

Miles' trial will resume tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 302.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Sole Eyewitness

Amelia Rufer — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 08:42:34 -0500

Judge John Ramsey Johnson issued a bench warrant Tuesday after a murder witness failed to appear in court.

Misty Gibson is the only person who claims to have seen Sandy Greene's murder on April 30, 2012.

According to charging documents, Gibson saw Andre Miles
-- who she knew by the nicknames "Pit" or "Pug" -- walk up to Greene with a silver semi-automatic handgun and shoot him six times.

But when she was called on the stand last Monday, Gibson refused to testify and was held in contempt of court.

Gibson was released Friday on the condition that she agreed to testify.

Gibson did appear before the court Monday, but because defense attorney Billy Ponds was out sick, Judge Johnson continued her testimony until Tuesday—a decision that the prosecution fought.

When Gibson didn't show on Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Leibman requested an arrest warrant.

Before ruling, Judge Johnson told the court, "I've been reluctant to use power of the court with her because I thought it would be counterproductive."

But Leibman said he thought that putting Gibson in contempt "had a very positive effect."

Leibman said he believes it is likely that Gibson will testify Wednesday morning.

Opening Arguments Heard in Trial of Andre Miles

Amelia Rufer — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 20:47:20 -0500

An argument over girlfriends and shared living space led Andre Miles to shoot Sandy Green III in April 2012, a prosecutor argued as Miles' murder trial opened.

Green, who was known as Buddy, had a son with his girlfriend, April Porter. The two were living together when Green died. A few weeks before the shooting, Miles started to get involved with Porter's younger sister, Hellena Best, according to the prosecution.

"Green found out about it and was getting tired of [Miles] hanging out at April's place," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Leibman said in opening statements Monday. The two argued over the issue prior to the murder.

On April 30, Green and three friends were walking up Savannah Street Southeast. At approximately 11:42 a.m., Miles confronted Green and, according to police, shot Green six or seven times.

"[Miles] didn't like what [Green] had to say then either," Leibman said. "At point blank range, he fired."

Leibman warned jurors that Green's friends weren't going to be forthcoming. Instead, he told them to focus their attention on the testimony of the "brave young woman" who witnessed the murder from across the street.

"She watches [Miles]. She sees the confrontation and she sees [Miles] shoot Buddy and she's horrified," Leibman told the jury, using Greene's nickname.

Prosecution and defense disagree on the nature of that witness's actions following that moment.

According to Leibman, the yet-unnamed witness and Green were friends. When she saw him get shot, she ran to help but was unable to stop the bleeding.

At the suggestion of Green's friend, she went through Green's pockets to remove anything incriminating before police arrived.

The prosecution said she was trying to protect his reputation, but defense attorney Billy Ponds argued that she was in fact robbing him.

Additionally, Ponds told the jury that she couldn't have witnessed what happened because her statement to police diverges from that of Green's friends.

But Leibman suggested that Greene's friends weren't credible.

"You're going to know when you hear about their backgrounds that they were involved with the criminal justice system," said Leibman.

One of those friends was Keith Archie, 32. When Archie was called to the stand Monday, he testified that he never saw who shot Green because the shots came from behind them.

"Shots went off and I ran," said Archie.

Trial is scheduled to resume tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 302.

Andre Miles Pleads Innocent in Shooting Death of Sandy Greene

Sam Pearson — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:19:33 -0500

Andre Miles pleaded innocent Friday to charges related to the April shooting death of Sandy Greene III.

Miles was arraigned before Judge John Ramsey Johnson. The grand jury issued a three-count indictment against Miles, charging him with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

Prosecutors are working with Miles' attorneys to negotiate a plea agreement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Liebman told Judge Johnson. Initial offers would allow Miles to plead guilty to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed and receive a sentence within the sentencing guidelines for that crime, Liebman said.

Miles, 19, has been held at D.C. Jail since May 2012. Judge William Jackson found probable cause to hold Miles at his preliminary hearing in June 2012.

A copy of the indictment will be added to this post.

Probable Cause Found in Case Against Andre Miles

Rebecca Zisser — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:56:21 -0400

Andre Miles was ordered held today at his preliminary hearing for the shooting death of Sandy Greene III after Judge William Jackson found probable cause that Miles committed the crime of second degree murder-while armed.

Miles' defense attorney, Billy Ponds, did not argue against the finding.

Miles was arrested May 4 in connection with Greene's death. Charging documents in the case rely heavily on the account of one witness who told police she witnessed the shooting.

That witness told police that she saw Miles, also known as “Pug, “Pit” or “Reds,” approach Green on Savannah Street NE, according to the charging documents. Miles pointed what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun at Greene and shot at him.

“For real?” Green asked, putting his arms out from his sides.

“Yeah, for real,” Miles said, shooting Green two more times before fleeing.

Greene died 45 minutes later at Washington Hospital Center Med-Star.

Detective Michael Fulton told the court Friday that Greene had been shot seven times.

Miles is scheduled to return to court for a felony status conference on May 25.

Hearing Postponed in Shooting Death of Sandy Greene

Laura Amico — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:55:13 -0400

A preliminary hearing for Andre Miles was rescheduled today at the request of Miles' attorney.

The hearing is now expected June 1.

Miles is suspected in the shooting death of Sandy Greene III.

"For Real?" Witness Hears Dying Man Ask

Lindsey Anderson — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:15:38 -0400

Andre Miles was ordered held today on charges of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Sandy Greene III in Northeast DC.

Charging documents in the case offer one witness's account of the shooting.

That witness told police that Miles, also known as "Pug, "Pit" or "Reds," allegedly approached Greene on Savannah Street NE, according to the documents. He pointed what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun at the ~~defendant~~ victim and allegedly shot him four times.

"For real?" Greene asked, putting his arms out from his sides.

"Yeah, for real," Miles said, shooting Green two more times before fleeing.

Greene died 45 minutes later at Washington Hospital Center Med-Star.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 25 with Judge William Jackson at 9 a.m.

The charging documents are below.

Andre Miles Arrested in Shooting Death of Sandy Greene

Laura Amico — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:49:50 -0400

Andre Miles, a nineteen-year-old Southeast DC man, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of first degree murder in the shooting death of Sandy Tremaine Greene III.

Greene was killed just before noon, Monday, in the 2200 block of Savannah Street SE.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

May 3, 2012

Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 2200 Block of Savannah Street, SE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 2200 block of Savannah Street, SE.

On Monday, April 30, 2012, at approximately 11:42 am, members of the Seventh District responded to the 2200 block of Savannah Street, SE for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 27 year-old Sandy Tremaine Greene III of Southeast, Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, May 3, 2012, at approximately 11:05 am, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 19 year-old Andre Miles of Southeast, Washington, DC, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant and charged him with Murder One while Armed in the fatal shooting of Sandy Tremaine Greene III.