Da'Ron Cox Legal Defense Fund
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Seeking Justice for an Innocent Man
DCLDF ~ P.O. Box 61292, King of Prussia, PA 19406 ~ 610-354-0863
| "Your body is in bondage, not your brain." ~ Evenlyn Cox, Da'Ron's Grandmother 1997 |
In December of 1996, Brian
Roberts was hanging out in an
alley in Homewood, PA. He died
around 3:00 a.m. in a hail of
bullets fired from a handgun. In
July of 1997, Da’Ron Cox – with
no motive or previous record of
violence - was put on trial in
Allegheny County for the
assault. Raishai Smith provided
the prosecution’s ‘eyewitness’
testimony that earned Mr. Cox a
sentence of life without parole.
Roberts was hanging out in an
alley in Homewood, PA. He died
around 3:00 a.m. in a hail of
bullets fired from a handgun. In
July of 1997, Da’Ron Cox – with
no motive or previous record of
violence - was put on trial in
Allegheny County for the
assault. Raishai Smith provided
the prosecution’s ‘eyewitness’
testimony that earned Mr. Cox a
sentence of life without parole.
The Case...
The Trial...
In his police interview, Smith identified two other eyewitnesses.
Neither of those witnesses were interviewed or called to testify by
Cox’s trial attorney, Sidney Sokolsky. At a 2004 appeals hearing,
Sokolsky acknowledged that he made no attempt to postpone the
trial so that he could continue to pursue these critical witnesses.
Neither of those witnesses were interviewed or called to testify by
Cox’s trial attorney, Sidney Sokolsky. At a 2004 appeals hearing,
Sokolsky acknowledged that he made no attempt to postpone the
trial so that he could continue to pursue these critical witnesses.
- Since the trial, both
witnesses have testified
that Cox was not the
shooter and that he was not
present at the scene.
- A third eyewitness has
identified the assailant. He
is the same individual that
police were originally told
had motive to commit this
homicide. This witness also
stated Da’Ron was not at
the scene.
- That same witness has
testified that he left Raishai
Smith inside a row home a
few minutes before the
shooting.
- A fourth witness has
testified that he was inside
a row home, more than a
block away, with Raishai
when they heard the shots
and there was no way
either of them could have
witnessed the killing.
A
B
Witnesses have testified that Raishai Smith was not present at the crime scene. Another witness has testified he and Smith were inside a rowhouse more than a block away (B) at the time of the shooting. |
The Investigation...
His assertions at trial about Roberts being shot while facing his
assailant contradict the coroner’s report that the bullets found in
Roberts body entered from the rear.
A witness acknowledged that Smith arrived immediately after the
shooting and held his childhood friend Roberts shortly before he died
and exclaimed, “Who did this? Someone has to pay for this,” before
running into the night.
assailant contradict the coroner’s report that the bullets found in
Roberts body entered from the rear.
A witness acknowledged that Smith arrived immediately after the
shooting and held his childhood friend Roberts shortly before he died
and exclaimed, “Who did this? Someone has to pay for this,” before
running into the night.
| the killer's hide out |
| Fleury Way |
Actor John Canada Terrell’s
revealing narrative accompanies
a chilling reenactment of the
crime. His commentary provides
a haunting insight into how the
American Justice System –
designed to do good for every
citizen – can be so shamelessly
cruel when the defense
attorneys charged with
upholding the system fail to do
their job.
revealing narrative accompanies
a chilling reenactment of the
crime. His commentary provides
a haunting insight into how the
American Justice System –
designed to do good for every
citizen – can be so shamelessly
cruel when the defense
attorneys charged with
upholding the system fail to do
their job.
Da'Ron in 1997 at age 17
Other evidence bolsters the notion that Smith, the prosecution’s lone
witness against Cox, was not even present at the shooting.
His testimony was provided in exchange for special consideration by
the prosecutor’s office regarding other offenses for which he was
serving time.
witness against Cox, was not even present at the shooting.
His testimony was provided in exchange for special consideration by
the prosecutor’s office regarding other offenses for which he was
serving time.
Reenactment...