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Back in October of 2020, father of 4, Rodman Welch was charged for the murder of Shakeem Dennison, who was shot and killed in broad daylight while leaving a basketball court in the Yarbrough area.
Tonight, the father of four has been convicted of murder. The conviction hinged on his own caution statement admitted into evidence against him. In that caution statement Welch told police that Dennison had shot him a year earlier - so he shot him in what he thought to be self defence.
He was found guilty today by Justice Nigel Pilgrim, and the attorney assigned to the case, OJ Elrington explained how everything hinged on the caution statement.
OJ Elrington, Attorney
"Well, the matter is a matter which was assigned to us by the court and substantively, the essential element came down to the admissibility of a caution statement. Whether or not a caution statement, which the court deemed as a confession was admissible or not. Previously we held a voider and in that voider the court ruled that that caution statement was admissible, that it was given voluntarily."
"However, the trial continued after that and of course, the court would consider whether or not even after that, that the matter that further evidence could counter their decision in that case. And so the court today ruled that they still consider that the evidence provided by the witnesses that came afterwards and the defendant did not change the court's mind as to the admissibility of the caution statement and so they found him guilty."
"Of, of course, we would have to discuss with the accused in this matter whether or not he wants to appeal the decision and or whether or not there is and of course there is, as I was discussing of camera, that there is a sentencing the which point there are opportunities for easy mitigation etc. So it is fundamental we have to get the instructions from him as to whether or not what he wants in this matter."
Elrington says that they will only appeal the case if his client instructs. Welch is expected to be sentenced on March 26th
Sentencing for Rodman Welch has been deferred for March 26, 2024.
