OH - Alishah Pointer, 22, kidnapped and tortured, North Randall, 3 Nov 2021 *7 Arrests, 2 Guilty*

[PommyMommy]

FEB 4, 2022
Juvenile suspect arrested in East Cleveland torture, murder case bound over to adult court (cleveland19.com)
The 17-year-old female charged in connection with a torture, murder in East Cleveland has now been bound over to adult court.

The juvenile was arrested by East Cleveland police in November 2021 for the murder of Alishah Pointer, 22.

[...]

The five adults charged in connection with the murder of Pointer have a hearing on Monday, Feb. 7.

Hakeem-Ali Shomo, Brittany Smith, Nathaniel Poke Jr.((Source: Cuyahoga County Sheriff))

Anthony Bryant, Portria Williams((Source: Cuyahoga County Sheriff))

 

[GuyfromCanada]

MAY 31

CLEVELAND (WJW) — A Cuyahoga County grand jury returned an indictment charging six people with murdering a 21-year-old woman in East Cleveland last year, the county prosecutor’s office said Tuesday.

The following people are now indicted after Alishah Pointer was tortured and killed back in November:

• Portria Williams, 31,
• Destiny Henderson, 18,
• Nathaniel Poke, 23,
• Anthony Bryant, 19,
• Hakeem-Ali Shomo, 31
• Brittany Smith, 33

Williams and Shomo are indicted with the following:

• Two counts of Aggravated Murder
• Three counts of Murder
• Two counts of Felonious Assault
• Five counts of Kidnapping
• One count of Conspiracy
• One count of Having Weapons While Under Disability

The rest of the group is charged with the following:

• Two counts of Aggravated Murder
• Three counts of Murder
• Two counts of Felonious Assault
• Five counts of Kidnapping
• One count of Conspiracy

Read the full indictment right here.

6 indicted for torture, murder of Alishah Pointer in East Cleveland

**Related Video Above: Sister of woman who was tortured, murdered in East Cleveland speaks out** CLEVELAND (WJW) — A Cuyahoga County grand jury returned an indictment charging six people with murde…

fox8.com

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trial date set for 6 charged in torture, murder of 22-year-old woman in East Cleveland

Alishah Pointer, 22, was killed in November 2021.

www.cleveland19.com

The defendants are Anthony Bryant, 19; Hakeem Ali Shomo, 31; Nathaniel Poke Jr., 23; Destiny Henderson, 18; Portria Williams, 31; and Brittany Smith, 33.

Court records show their trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Dec. 12 in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

 

[JerseyGirl]

2 plead guilty in connection with torture, murder of 22-year-old woman in East Cleveland

Alishah Pointer, 22. was killed in November 2021.

www.cleveland19.com

Two of the six suspects accused in the kidnapping, torture and murder of Alishah Pointer, 22, have pleaded guilty.

Destiny Henderson, 18, and Portria Williams, 31, will be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2023 and have agreed to testify against the other suspects.

Poke, Bryant, Smith, and Shomo are all being held at the Cuyahoga County Jail and have a pre-trial scheduled for Nov. 21.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trial begins for 3 suspects charged with the torture, murder of 22-year-old woman in East Cleveland

Alishah Pointer, 22. was killed in November 2021.

www.cleveland19.com

 

[JerseyGirl]

Judge declares mistrial in Alishah Pointer trial because of communication issue

A mistrial has been declared in the trial of three men accused of kidnapping, torturing, killing and leaving Alishah Pointer in a basement in East Cleveland on Nov. 4, 2021

www.news5cleveland.com

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 14, 2023

Mistrial declared for 3 alleged to have taken part in hourslong kidnapping, torture, and murder of 22-year-old

"Out of an abundance of caution, the Court granted the mistrial and the Judge recused himself from the case," the court said in a statement.

lawandcrime.com

[...]

Anthony Bryant, 19, Brittany Smith, 33, and Hakeem-Ali Shomo 31, had been on trial since March 6 over charges including aggravated murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and felonious assault.

[...]

Their trial came to an end early on Monday, the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas said in a message sent to Law&Crime.

... “Court staff had sent a procedural communication to the parties, which was inadvertently sent only to the prosecutors. Because this could be considered ex-parte communication, out of an abundance of caution, the Court granted the mistrial and the Judge recused himself from the case.”

[...]

Prosecutors believe the trial process will begin again within the next couple of days, according to Cleveland-based Fox affiliate WJW. The case has reportedly been reassigned to Judge Janet Burnside.

[...]

Nathaniel Poke Jr., 23, Portria Williams, 31, and Destiny Henderson, 18, are set to testify against the co-defendants when their trial restarts. Poke and Henderson pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, and conspiracy. Williams pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy.

The three witnesses are currently slated to be sentenced on March 27. That date could be pushed back due to Monday’s mistrial.

[...]

 

[JerseyGirl]

Sentencing continued for 3 who pleaded guilty in Alishah Pointer case

Three others charged in the case are awaiting a new court date after a mistrial was declared.

www.wkyc.com

Court records show 31-year-old Portria Williams, 23-year-old Nathaniel Poke Jr. and 18-year-old Destiny Henderson will all be sentenced before Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John Russo at 9 a.m.

Three other suspects charged in the case – Anthony Bryant, Brittany Smith and Hakeem-Ali Shomo – are awaiting a new court date after a mistrial was declared earlier this month. The court released the following statement about the situation:

"Prior to the trial resuming this morning, there was a motion for mistrial. Court staff had sent a procedural communication to the parties, which was inadvertently sent only to the prosecutors. Because this could be considered ex-parte communication, out of an abundance of caution, the Court granted the mistrial and the Judge recused himself from the case. Please check the on-line docket for updates."

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 27, 2023

Sentencing continued for 3 who pleaded guilty in Alishah Pointer case

Three others charged in the case are awaiting a new court date after a mistrial was declared.

www.wkyc.com

While court records showed 31-year-old Portria Williams, 23-year-old Nathaniel Poke Jr. and 18-year-old Destiny Henderson were all scheduled to be sentenced Monday morning, the court has since informed 3News that sentencing has been continued until all defendants have proceeded to trial.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 3, 2023

Alishah Pointer murder case: New trial date set for 3 remaining defentants

Anthony Bryant, Hakeem-Ali Shomo, and Brittany Smith had been in court last month before a mistrial was declared. Three others have already pleaded guilty.

www.wkyc.com

[...]

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office confirms to 3News that Anthony Bryant, Hakeem-Ali Shomo, and Brittany Smith will once again be tried beginning June 7. The trio had originally been set to face a judge and jury last month, but a mistrial was declared after court staff admitted to sending procedural communications to the prosecution but not the defense.

[...]

The three other co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty, with 31-year-old Portria Williams admitting to aggravated murder and 23-year-old Nathaniel Poke and 18-year-old Destiny Henderson both confessing to involuntary manslaughter. All are expected to be sentenced at a later date, while a seventh initial suspect named Indya Pauldo was arrested but never formally charged.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John J. Russo had initially been set to oversee the case, but recused himself following the mistrial. Judge Michael J. Russo (no known relation) will now take over.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 1, 2023

Court hearing held amid motion to dismiss case against 3 suspects in Alishah Pointer's murder

Anthony Bryant, Brittany Smith and Hakeem-Ali Shomo face charges of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and kidnapping.

www.wkyc.com

Three people, who are facing charges in connection with the death of 22-year-old Alishah Pointer, were back in court Monday and Tuesday for a hearing amid a "motion to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds."

It comes after a mistrial had previously been declared on March 13 for defendants Anthony Bryant, Brittany Smith and Hakeem-Ali Shomo shortly after jury selection started. All three have been charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and kidnapping.

MAY 2, 2023

Hearing for 3 suspects charged with the torture, murder of East Cleveland woman

Alishah Pointer, 22. was killed in November 2021.

www.cleveland19.com

A motion to dismiss hearing was heard in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Tuesday afternoon for the three remaining suspects charged in connection with the kidnapping, torture and murder of Alishah Pointer, 22.

MAY 31, 2023

Judge denies motion to have charges dismissed in Alisha Pointer murder trial

A Cuyahoga County Judge has ruled against a motion filed on the grounds of double jeopardy to have charges dismissed against three defendants for the kidnapping and death of Alishah Pointer.

www.news5cleveland.com

Judge Janet R. Burnside ruled against the motion on Wednesday, which sought the charges brought against Anthony Bryant, Brittany Smith and Hakeem-Ali Shomo to be dismissed.