Tyrone Mosby was arrested in August 2012 and accused of pulling the trigger
in a shootout that hit a high-school girl leaving her with severe brain
damage. Testimony in his trial began Tuesday and whether or not Mosby
is sentenced to life in prison, will hinge on the testimony of a convicted felon.
The convicted felon is Chester Joseph, the owner of the home Mosby was
robbing that night. According to Joseph’s testimony, he arrived
home while a burglary was taking place. He stated Mosby fired several
shots at him as he fled in a dark colored SUV. Joseph gave chase down
Powers Drive in Orlando, which is where Mosby, according to Joseph, again
fired shots. Tragically one of those shots fired from Mosby’s vehicle
hit a minivan and struck 16-year-old Danielle Sampson who was riding in
the back of the van on her way home from church with her parents.
Sampson’s mother and her husband, Alma and Justin Fletcher, stated
they did not see the shooter. Her daughter now suffers severe brain damage
and requires round the clock care.
Unfortunately, the prosecution in this case received a major setback when
a co-defendant in the case, who was given immunity to testify in the case,
shocked the courtroom when he stated he would not testify against Mosby.
Another witness in the case who had testified that she saw Mosby driving
the vehicle involved in the shooting, said she was coerced by the Orange
County Sheriff’s Office into making the statement. The witness claimed
“they threatened my children … they said they could make
my life a living hell.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is denying this defendant’s
claim saying she voluntarily offered the information.
The trial on Wednesday included testimony form law enforcement officials
and from the victim’s mother explaining to the jury how she found
her daughter in the back of the minivan after the shooting.
If convicted of a felony first-degree murder charge, Mosby could face life
in prison.
Original
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