A key witness in a triple-murder case has married the suspected killer raising suspicion that she did it to take advantage of state law that may prevent her from testifying against her husband.
A Kansas City man charged with three counts of first-degree murder has married a witness who told police she saw him kill three people including his 1-year-old son.
Prosecutors in Jackson County believe Shellana Victoria Davis married Joseph L. Nelson to avoid testifying against him under Missouri’s Spousal Privilege Law.“It is alleged that (her) actions were intentional efforts to hinder the prosecution of a triple homicide,” prosecutors wrote of Davis’ plan to marry Nelson.
Prosecutors say Davis told police she had seen Nelson shoot his ex-girlfriend Bianca Fletcher during an argument before shooting her 18-year boyfriend and his son on Sep. 8. She says she had driven with Nelson to Fletcher’s home because Nelson had wanted to upset Fletcher for creating tension between him and her new boyfriend.
She also told police that Nelson instructed her to help him dispose of shell cases after the shooting. Police found 14.
Prosecutors had sought a court order to formally interview Davis before the marriage took place, but the court failed to rule on the motion by the time the couple wed on Dec. 7, while Nelson was held on a $1 million cash bond.
Davis was arrested following the marriage and charged with one count of first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree tampering of evidence.Prosecutors fear the marriage could jeopardize the state’s case against Nelson.
Frank O. Bowman III, a law professor at the University of Missouri, told the Kansas City Star that Missouri’s law may allow Davis to decline to testify against Nelson and could rule out admission of Davis’ statements to police because they would be considered hearsay violating the constitutional right for Nelson to confront his accuser.
However, an exception to the state’s spousal privilege law applies if the murder victim is under the age of 18 as were two of Nelson’s alleged victims.
Prosecutors say Davis is the only witness to the killings.