Alleged accomplice may leave jail
Suspect had introduced pregnant woman to the hit man who killed her
In the case of a husband accused of hiring a hit man to kill his pregnant wife, a judge Friday ordered that the shooter’s alleged accomplice can await trial on house arrest.
The ruling set a $300,000 bond for Dametri Dale, who at 22 is serving as his own lawyer fighting a first-degree murder charge.
Authorities say he assisted the contract killer in the shooting death of Makeva Jenkins almost four years ago.
It’s unusual for people to be allowed out of jail while murder charges are pending. But Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Dana Gillen, over the objection of prosecutors, said Dale was entitled to his conditional release.
Dale pleaded for a $50,000 to $100,000 bond, saying he wasn’t sure if he could even afford that amount. Gillen said he had to set it higher “to ensure the protection of the community.”
“There is a great deal of evidence pointing towards the probable guilt of Mr. Dale, however I cannot in good conscience find that the proof of his guilt defeats, if you will, the presumption of innocence,” Gillen said.
Jenkins, 33, was gunned down inside her house near Lantana at 2:20 a.m. on June 29, 2017, leading to three arrests: Euri Jenkins, 34, the woman’s husband of 5 ½ years; Joevan Joseph, 23, the man who has admitted firing a bullet into the victim’s head, and Dale, who is accused of introducing Joseph to Jenkins.
“There’s nothing wrong with me introducing one friend to another,” Dale said in court Friday.
Joseph has pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder count and will be a star witness at the trials of Jenkins and Dale, which are not yet scheduled. Joseph faces a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, based on his cooperation.
Records show Dale assisted detectives early on in the case and his help led to Joseph’s arrest.
Dale provided sworn statements that he introduced Joseph to Jenkins, and also showed Joseph how to find the Jenkins’ home. He told Judge Gillen that doesn’t make him culpable.
“I brought him over there and the next thing I know he’s killing someone,” Dale said, insisting, “I was not aware of any plan.”
But Dale previously told investigators that Jenkins had mentioned to him how he fell out of love with his wife and wanted her gone.
Assistant State Attorney Lauren Godden argued Dale was complicit.
“He knew about the murder,” she said. “He drove Mr. Joseph there.”
Prosecutors say Jenkins provided a $1,500 down payment and a revolver to Joseph. Investigators have contended that Jenkins had an apparent motive of collecting a $500,000 life insurance policy, which turned out not to be in his name.
Jenkins has insisted he’s innocent, with his lawyer blaming Joseph and Dale. In statements to detectives after his arrest, Jenkins labeled Joseph a drug dealer and a thief who killed his wife as part of a robbery attempt.
Makeva Jenkins had three children, and founded a business consulting firm called The Prime Enterprise Group, which assisted entrepreneurs and small businesses.