The prosecution's key witness in the murder case against Your Black Muslim Bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of voluntary manslaughter for allegedly carrying out Bey's orders to shoot Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey and a homeless man whose nephew killed Bey's brother.
He struck a deal with prosecutors to secure his testimony against Bey and Antoine Mackey, another bakery figure. Both men face potential death sentences if convicted of murder for the 2007 deaths of Bailey and two other men, Odell Roberson Jr. and Michael Wills.
Broussard was arrested Aug. 3, 2007, the day after Bailey was shot to death on a downtown Oakland street, and was soon charged with the Oakland Post editor's slaying. He gave a five-hour statement to prosecutors in March and last month he testified for two days before a grand jury, which proceeded to indict Bey and Mackey.
According to Broussard, Bey wanted Bailey killed because the journalist's reporting had contributed to the 2003 death of Bey's father, bakery founder Yusuf Bey, and because Bailey was working on a story about the Oakland group's internal and financial problems.
Mackey allegedly drove the getaway van when Bailey was shot. He is suspected of having been with Broussard when Roberson was killed and of having pulled the trigger in the Wills killing, which Bey also allegedly ordered.
If he testifies truthfully against Bey and Mackey, prosecutors say, Broussard will be given a 25-year term. Had he been convicted of murdering Bailey, he would probably have been sentenced to 50 years to life.
Bailey's father, sister and other relatives watched the court session and left without commenting.
Broussard's mother, Aundra Dixon, also was there and said later that she stood by her son. She also said, however, that she was shocked that he had finally admitted to her that he shot Bailey.
"I felt he was being responsible, taking responsibility for what he'd done," she said. "As a mother, I'm hurt."
No comments:
Post a Comment