Missing witness extends trial

By Amanda Stewart

Published: March 25, 2008

The murder trial for Walter Douglas Jenkins will continue today in Prince William Circuit Court.

Jenkins, 32, of 2637 Bowen Road SE, Apt. 104, in Washington, D.C., pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony for the September 2006 shooting death of 49-year-old Gordon Harris in Woodbridge.

The trial was expected to end Tuesday, but a witness subpoenaed to testify for the defense failed to appear. That witness is expected to testify today.

According to court testimony Monday and Tuesday, about 15 people saw someone shoot Harris several times at close range about 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 19, 2006.

Harris was standing at the intersection of Featherstone Road and Farm Creek Drive, near the Featherstone Industrial Center, when he was shot. He and other men regularly stood there, waiting for passing truck drivers to hire them for daily work.

The shooter was wearing all black clothes, a hooded sweatshirt and a mask. No one could see his face.

One witness, Simo Holloway testified that he was sitting in his car, about 20 to 30 feet away from the

corner, when the shooting took place.

When the shooter fled the scene on foot, Holloway followed him in his car. As he was following him through a residential area, he lost the shooter a few times, but saw him enter a wooded area. Soon afterward, he saw Jenkins, getting into a yellow car. He recognized Jenkins to be the shooter because he recognized his shoes, he said.

Another witness, James Cassidy, testified that he saw someone driving that same yellow car past his house at a high rate of speed. He saw the car pull up to Marumsco Acres Lake Park and the driver run into the park, carrying a bag. He said the man, who he later identified as Jenkins, then came out of the park without the bag.

Police later found a black plastic bag containing blue pants, white socks and white tennis shoes in the park. DNA evidence linked the clothes to Jenkins, but the clothes are not the same clothes that witnesses saw the shooter wear-ing,

according to court testimony.

Forensic experts testified that gunshot residue was found on Jenkins' hands and in his car.

The gun and mask used by the shooter were not recovered.

At the start of the trial, defense attorney Olaun Simmons argued that there was no evidence to prove that Jenkins was the shooter.

"There is definitely reasonable doubt about the actual identity of the shooter," Simmons said in his opening statement.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney James Willett argued that the eyewitness testimony and the forensic evidence prove that Jenkins was the shooter.

He also said that Jenkins' motive to shoot Harris was revenge.

About a week before the shooting, Harris, who was carrying a baseball bat, confronted Jenkins at a warehouse where he was working.

Harris was angry that Jenkins had been "undercutting" or offering to work for less money than other day laborers and taking jo

from them.

That confrontation made Jenkins angry, Willett said.

"[Jenkins] was going to get his revenge and on the morning of Sept. 19 he did just that," Willett said in his opening statement.

Simmons said that the argument between Jenkins and Harris was "not a big deal."

"That dispute was resolved.  So there would be no reason for revenge," Simmons said.

The trial continues today.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.