State Rests Case in ‘Moo Moo’ Murder Trial

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/State-rests-case-in-Moo-Moo-murder-trial-8376468.php

BRIDGEPORT — The state rested its case Wednesday afternoon in the trial of Jamal “Moo Moo” Hamilton, accused of last year’s shooting spree that killed one man and wounded eight other people in a North End housing project.

The defense is to begin its case Thursday morning.

Hamilton, 24, who has been linked to a gang operating out of the Greene Homes housing project, is charged with murder and eight counts of first-degree assault in the June 11, 2015, shooting spree in the Trumbull Gardens housing project.

Savonie “Vahnnie” McNeil, 37, of Shelton, was found lying on his back between two parked cars with a gunshot wound to the head.

Seven other people were found in the parking lot with both serious and minor gunshot wounds. A grandmother, taking a shower in her nearby home, was hit by a bullet in the leg.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Michael DeJoseph’s case against Hamilton centers on the testimony of two witnesses, a young woman who said she saw Hamilton running from the shooting scene with a gun in his hand and Kevan Bennett, who testified he was Hamilton’s getaway driver.

Bennett testified Hamilton told him he did the shooting because one of the victims, whom he didn’t name, was responsible for previously shooting a friend of Hamilton’s.

McNeil, an innocent victim, had actually been responsible for helping people who lived in the project by giving them jobs at his construction company.

In fact, Bennett testified McNeil had given him a job.

Hamilton’s lawyer, Michael Riley, declined comment on his defense strategy.