An inmate charged in connection to the deadly prison riot at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in 2017 testified on Friday against four inmates currently on trial for the murder of a correctional officer.
One of the four defendants being tried for murder during the riot at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center last year has been removed from the ongoing trial.
A 49-year-old inmate, who was a potential witness in the ongoing murder trial of a Delaware correctional officer, has died.
A Delaware Department of Correction spokeswoman would not provide Luis Cabrera's manner of death and would say only that the convicted double-murderer died while in the infirmary at Howard Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington. Foul play is not suspected.
Cabrera was an inmate housed in Building C during the Feb. 1, 2017, takeover at Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna. He was also a potential witness for the state, which is prosecuting 16 inmates charged in the killing of Lt. Steven Floyd during the takeover.
Three of the 16 inmates are currently being tried in New Castle County Superior Court.
During Thursday's hearings, the jury heard from Dr. Gary Collins, the state's chief medical examiner who autopsied Floyd. Although Collins did not know precisely when Floyd died during the 18-hour siege, he said earlier medical attention could have saved him.
Kelly Gibbs, one of 16 inmates charged with murder in the death of Correctional Officer Lt. Steven Floyd, died at 2:45 a.m. Thursday.
Earlier this week, Gibbs pleaded guilty to rioting, kidnapping, and conspiracy in connection with the February 2017 uprising. He also faced charges of first-degree murder and first-degree assault.
The 30-year-old had been serving a 24-year sentence for second-degree murder and other charges.
Jury selection will get underway Monday morning at the New Castle County courthouse as a second set of inmates charged in a fatal riot at the Vaughn prison in Smyrna prepares to head to trial.
This time around, inmates Obadiah Miller, John Bramble, Kevin Berry, and Abednego Baynes will be in court. Miller is currently serving 10 years for manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Bramble is in the midst of a 40-year sentence for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, second-degree assault, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, possession of ammunition by a person prohibited, and home invasion. Berry is currently serving 14 years for three counts of first-degree robbery and other charges. Baynes is in prison on a second-degree murder charge, sentenced to 18 years behind bars.
The trial for four inmates charged with murder in a 2017 Delaware prison riot ended Monday with no convictions.
Jurors deliberated about five days before acquitting Abednego Baynes, 26, and Kevin Berry, 28, of all charges filed after the uprising at Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna in February 2017, The News Journal of Wilmington reported .
Officer Steven Floyd died during the 18-hour standoff. The two other guards were released and a prison counselor was rescued by police.
The jury could not reach unanimous verdicts on a riot and assault charge against John Bramble, 29. Jurors also didn't reach a unanimous decision on murder charges and a riot charge against Obadiah Miller, 26. The two were acquitted of all other charges.
Prosecutors must decide whether to retry Bramble and Miller.
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