TESTIMONY BEGINS IN 1ST HOVEY STREET SENTENCING

TESTIMONY BEGINS IN 1ST HOVEY STREET SENTENCING

2:12 PM, Nov 10, 2010  |

Mark Steward, 48, the uncle of slaying victims, Gina Hunt and 23 month old
Jordan,waits to enter court for the hearing of Ronald Davis, who pleaded guilty
to four counts of felony murder in the January 2008 Hovey Street slayings. /
Danese Kenon / The Star

Written by Carrie Ritchie

In shackles, Ronald Davis was brought into a
Marion Superior courtroom filled to capacity as he prepared to hear testimony
about the shooting of two women and their infant children in the January
2008 Hovey Street slayings.

Davis, 33, Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to four
counts of felony murder in September, but he insists that he didn’t shoot Gina
Hunt and Andrea Yarrell, both 24; Jordan Hunt, 23 months; and Charlii
Daye-Yarrell, 5 months. By pleading guilty to felony murder, Davis admitted only
to being in the house at the time they were shot.

He faces a prison term of
up to 280 years following testimony in today’s court hearing.

Prosecutors earlier agreed not to seek the death penalty in exchange for
Davis’ plea.

People in the audience were
crying even before today’s testimony began. When an Indianapolis Metro police
officer, Michael Forrest, took the stand and described the grisly scene he found
at the Hovey Street home, he started crying and sparked more sobbing from the
courtroom audience.

Emotions were high outside the courtroom as well.

At the start of the lunch break, Marion County sheriff’s deputies had to
break up a fight in the hallway outside the court between the Davis family and
supporters of the victims. No one was arrested.

After the lunch break, the judge warned the court audience to behave
themselves, and told the families to have compassion for each other. He
threatened to kick people out of the courtroom if more fighting erupts. The
judge also called for each of the families to be escorted separately from the
courtroom after the sentencing.

During the morning
testimony, Forrest recalled entering the home and finding the two moms dead
along with one of the children. Then, he heard the cries of the baby. They found
the baby under one of the mothers.

A defense attorney questioned Forrest about the accuracy of his memory of
the scene. The officer responded that he’s forgotten fine details of high school
graduation and other milestones in his life. But, that scene, he said, “I will
never forget.”

Davis was the first of the five
charged in the plot to be sentenced.

Davis and Jasper Frazier are accused of breaking into a home in the 3200
block of Hovey Street on Jan. 14, 2008, looking for marijuana and cash. When
they couldn’t find what they were looking for, one of them allegedly shot the
women and children, who tried to hide behind a bed.

Frazier, who has a history of mental health problems, said Davis shot the
victims.

Two others, Zarumin Coleman and Donte Hobson, allegedly waited in a sport
utility vehicle outside the home. Another, Tommy C. Warren, was charged for his
role in planning the robbery, but wasn’t with the men that night.

Last week, Coleman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and
unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. His sentencing is
scheduled for Dec. 17.

Warren pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery in October. His
sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 1.

Hobson is scheduled to go to trial Monday and Frazier is scheduled to go to
trial Dec 13.

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