Witness intimidation at play in murder case

WEST CHESTER >> When law enforcement authorities announced the arrest in November 2016 of a man they said shot and killed a military veteran in cold blood on the streets of Coatesville, they credited the cooperation of eyewitnesses who they said identified the shooter as Sheron Jaeln “Ryda” Purnell, a 24-year-old reputed member of a local street gang.

“This case was solved by the courage of the witnesses who were willing to come forward and assist the authorities,” District Attorney Tom Hogan said in a press release. “Combined with the hard work of the Coatesville Police Department and Chester County Detectives, this type of cooperation is what Coatesville needs as the city looks to join other Chester County areas that have rebuilt themselves.”

But as Purnell’s trial on murder charges is expected to open Monday, some of those witnesses have reportedly begun to have second thoughts about their decisions to cooperate, and may now pose an obstacle to proving the prosecution’s case.

Two of the alleged eyewitnesses, including a now 15-yearold girl who was on the street the evening of the shooting and described what she saw for city police and a man who had at first been reluctant to speak with investigators but later gave a recorded statement allegedly identifying Purnell as the shooter, may be hesitant to come to the county Justice Center and testify against Purnell for fear of retaliation, Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Rice, one of three prosecutors in the case, told Judge David Bortner last week,

The man, according to Rice, was recently beaten severely by a group of men who accused him of ratting out their friend, Purnell. During the assault, some of the group shouted “Free Ryda,” meaning Purnell, before bludgeoning the man with a metal foot scooter.

The girl had initially given a detailed statement to a Chester County Detective that she saw the man who shot the veteran, Kevin Jalbert, as he was confronted by a gang in her neighborhood. She gave the statement even though she said the shooter had looked at her and pointed the gun he used to kill Jalbert at her. But now she says she is afraid to testify because of what might happen.

“I’m scared,” she told a city detective working on the case earlier this month. “I don’t want to get shot.”

Opening statements are scheduled to begin in Purnell’s trial, which is expected to last through the week. Bortner has yet to rule on

Bortner has yet to rule on motions filed by the prosecution earlier this month on the need to explain to the jury what may have caused the witnesses to balk at confirming earlier statements they gave to police. He is expected to do so before testimony begins Monday.

motions filed by the prosecution earlier this month on the need to explain to the jury what may have caused the witnesses to balk at confirming earlier statements they gave to police. He is expected to do so before testimony begins Monday.

Purnell, 24, of Coatesville, is charged with first-degree and third-degree murder, aggravated assault, and related charges. He has been held in Chester County Prison without bail since his arrest in November 2016.

Purnell is reportedly a member of a local street gang in the city known as “The Belmont Boys” because of their shared upbringing on Belmont Street, a blocklong residential neighborhood just south of the city’s Main Street. The shooting occurred near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Belmont about 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3, 2016.

Jalbert, 36, of South Carolina, was pronounced dead later that night. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force who had been stationed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before his discharge, Jalbert was a native of Connecticut who had been treated at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Caln.

Jalbert had been walking near Olive Street when he came into contact with a group of children who he reportedly yelled at. The children walked away, but Purnell, who apparently lived on Belmont, arrived and reportedly engaged in a verbal confrontation with Jalbert. They both walked up White Alley, where police said the confrontation reportedly became physical.

Purnell reportedly pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and allegedly shot Jalbert as many as eight times, according to witnesses and police. Several adults and kids who witnessed it, then scattered from the scene. Jalbert was unarmed.

In the motions, Rice and her fellow prosecutors, Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Miller and Emily Provencher, asked Bortner to allow them to present evidence of the alleged intimidation against the man and the young girl. Both names are being withheld by the Daily Local News because of the alleged intimidation.

Rice said she anticipated that both of the alleged eyewitnesses would now go back on their earlier statements so as not to run afoul of Purnells’ associates, one of whom has been arrested and charged with the September assault of the man. She said the prosecution wants to introduce a photograph of the man in the hospital after the assault, in which he is blooded and bruised, as well as a cellphone video of the alleged attack, in which he can been seen and heard being beaten by those shouting “free Ryda!”

She also wants to present a videotaped statement by the girl in which she describes her fear of being retaliated against for her possible testimony. She said she witnessed the attack on the man, which occurred in virtually the same spot as the murder, and it as her scooter that was alleged to have been used against him.

The evidence would be necessary to explain to the jury why the two witnesses would possibly try to recant their earlier statements.

Assistant Public Defender Stephen Delano, who is representing Purnell, objected to the evidence as prejudicial. Purnell is not alleged to have directed the assault or actually threatened the girl.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Purnell faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.