Thanks for following today. We will be back at 9 a.m. Tuesday.  

Judge and lawyers will work on jury instructions, since they finished early.  

No other witnesses for today.  

Now defense stipulates that Walker is the man identified on the video shooting Valentine. The next witness wasn't needed and excused. 

 

No cross. Harden is excused. 

The jury is back in now. 

Harden: There was more than one  brand name ammo used in the shooting, which isn't unusual. Evidence of casings were locked up at department until taken for testing.  

Chappell said there has been a violation of expanded media rules by an outlet.  That has been corrected. But cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom for the rest of the day. He will address this again  tomorrow. 

Judge gives jurors short break. 10 min. 

Lawyers taking up something outside the presence of jury. 

Harden is talking about how she collected evidence. She collected 8 casings - meaning 8 bullets were shot. Most were found near north wall, near DJ stand.   

Harden is talking about how she collected evidence. She collected 8 casings - meaning 8 bullets were shot. Most were found near north wall, near DJ stand.   

Cedar Rapids police crime scene investigator Jessica Harden takes the stand.

Harden: She responded about 4 a.m. to Taboo for the investigation. Eganhouse told her what he had found and collected. Valentine's t-shirt was collected by her and taken back to police dept. It was hung up in drying room because of blood before testing or sent for testing.    

On cross, Eganhouse said he picked up some of the casings. He doesn't know who picked up which casing. 

Eganhouse is excused. 

Eganhouse: Semi-auto 9 mm pistol used in shooting. All cartridges were from 9 mm.

Photo from video shows Walker holding firearm and pointed at Valentine. Eganhouse said he can see it's a semi-automatic gun.  

Photos of cartridge casings that were submitted for testing to determine if they were from same gun. 

 

Photo of white shirt with blood that Valentine was wearing. The body was dragged from where he initially was or was shot to area near doorway. Valentine was wearing white shirt and had white shirt around his head.   

 

Eganhouse: He is still identifying photos. 

Photo of Valentine's body on floor near DJ stand.  His body is partially in the doorway of employee room.

Body wasn't moved until photos and other crime scene work was completed, Eganhouse said. Dried blood pool underneath the victim.

 

  

 

We are back. Eganhouse will continue his testimony. 

Jurors have been excused.

Schulte asking to make record regarding repeated objections to beyond the minutes of testimony. 

Chappell is asking Schulte to provide the case law regarding those to him by email. 

 

Judge calls for lunch break. Be back at 1:30 p.m. 

 

Photo of north door to club. Valentine's body was lying on the floor, not too far from it, Eganhouse said. 

Photos shows south entrance. There's a hallway with ATM. That's main entrance that most used to enter club.    

Showing photos of inside the building. The main access to club is downstairs. No individuals are in these photos. There are blood droplets on stairs.

Defense continues to object to these photos for relevance and as more prejudicial than probative. Judge Chappell continues to overrule objections. These are just photos showing stairs down to club.   

 

Eganhouse: He is identifying photos taken at the scene that morning. 

Eganhouse: He was off duty but he received a call about 1:45 a.m. from on scene crime investigator. He went to the club to help process the scene. The entire block of the club was blocked off. Several law enforcement agencies were there to help with scene security. 

 

CR crime scene investigator Martin Eganhouse takes the stand. 

Prosecution had its next witness scheduled for 11:30 a.m., so judge called for recess until that time. Jurors are on break.  

Defense continued to object to Gorman's testimony, saying it was outside of the scope of minutes of testimony. 

Gorman: They secured crime scene and made sure everyone was out.  

No questions from defense. 

Gorman is excused. 

Gorman: He responded to Taboo. there were reports of shooting inside and people running out. He saw about 30-40 people running out. He was going downstairs and another 30 were running up the stairs. 

Gorman said he thought there was an active shooting inside the club and knew there was limited officers inside. He went in to help. He saw Valentine on his back and his eyes were open but he wasn't breathing. He was dead. 

Paramedics were arrived and confired he was dead. 

CR police Sgt. Matthew Gorman takes the stand. He was starting to explain his background and experience and the defense is objecting, saying it's outside the scope of minutes of testimony. Typically, this is foundation information to show a police officer's experience. 

Judge sustains objection.    

No other questions from defense. 

Williams is excused.  

We are back after the break.  

Morris Williams: He is next to Valentine, making their way through the crowd. Then shooting happens. Valentine is on the floor and Williams went over to him. He was in shock and doesn't rememver if he was breathing at the time.

He doesn't know Walker. 

On cross, Williams said he didn't see Valentine too often. He didn't know Valentine was in prison. 

Judge Chappell calls for break. 15 min. 

 

Morris Williams: He was friends with Valentine. Known him for 10 years. Hanging out with Valentine April 9 and sent to club together. Don't remember a lot of the night. Blocked it out. Normal night before shooting.   

 

Williams is excused. 

Williams said he didn't Valentine. 

 

They are showing another video clip from a different angle and this is more of the bar area. 

This video shows everyone getting on the floor and trying to run out when Walker starts shooting Valentine. It shows a closer view of Valentine lying on the floor. 

This video was in color and the other clip was in black and white. 

 

 

People are dancing  and having a good time. Dance floor is packed. 

Walker is at the club, talking to people on the dance floor and enjoying the music. 

Valentine then comes in the club and several minutes later Walker sees him. 

Walker walks away and then turns and shoots multiple times in Valentine's direction. Walker then goes out the door. 

  

 

The videos don't have sound. 

The video is graphic, so we probably won't show those clips from those, except photos of crowded bar or dance floor. 

The video will be played for the jury. 

Williams: April 9-10, club opened about 10 p.m. - usual time. He got there about midnight. It was busy that night. There was a theme night but doesn't remember the theme. 

He previously viewed the surveillance video from that night.  

First witness is Modteets Williams Jr.: One of the owners of Taboo Nightclub & Lounge, 415 3rd St. SE. Surveillance cameras run 24 hours a day. Cameras located a various places inside the club. Four cameras in main araa.  

 

Asks jurors to hear all the evidence, not just a few seconds of a video. 

Walker acted in self defense and the state can't prove he didn't. 

Valentine was in prison from 2016 to 2022, just before this shooting. 

Walker was a regular customer. Walker was having a good time until Valentine walked into room. His demeanor changed. He stared at Valentine. Within three minutes, Valentine was on the ground and Walker left the club. 

Walker believed Valentine would cause him great harm. He reacted in the only way he could to protect himself. 

Sarah Hradek's opening: Not a whodunit. Walker shot Valentine but he acted in self defense. The video will show Walker shooting Valentine. Asks the jurors to keep in mind why this happened. The video won't show that. Evidence will show Valentine had a history of shooting Walker since 2016. Walker was treated at the hospital for that shooting. Valentine was known to carry a gun and being a danger to the community.    

Evidence will show all the rounds came from the same weapon. 

Walker denies he was there and says he doesn't know Valentine. 

Evidence will show Walker shouldn't have a gun because has been previously convicted. 

 

Valentine's hands come up to try to block his face. He doesn't have a weapon. Walker unloads 8 mm rounds and five strikes Valentine. Valentine's on the floor, dying, and Walker runs out of club. 

Schulte's opening: Michael Valentine and friend decided to go to Taboo nightclub. It was 90s night. Dimione Walker was in the club, dancing and having fun. About 1:30, Valentine comes in club, having fun, greeting people, talking to his girlfriend. About 2 minutes later, Walker spots Valentine and stares at him. Walker walks by exit door but stays there and walks into the crowd near Valentine. Valentine is talking to friends. Walker turns his back on Valentine. Valentine reaches out to shakes someone's hand and Walker spins around and starts shooting gun at Valentine.

 

Opening statements will start. Assistant Linn County Attorney Rene Schulte will go first and Dimione Walker's lawyer will follow. His lawyers are Quint Meyerdirk and Sarah Hradek.    

Good morning! We will get underway in a few minutes. The jury just came in.