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Key witness does not show; murder trial delayed

The woman's family members say she took a bribe from a man charged in her cousin's death.

By GINA PACE
Published October 18, 2006

DADE CITY - A key state witness was a no-show Tuesday in the murder trial of Eric Antwon "E-Love" Wilson, causing the trial to be delayed and some to speculate of witness tampering.

Latrice Marbra was scheduled to testify that she saw Wilson and Scottie Lee "D'Angelo" White gun down her cousin, Ronnie Barber, outside a Lacoochee nightclub on Feb. 25, 2001.

She had already testified during White's trial in April that she witnessed the crime. White was convicted of the murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

But where was Marbra on Tuesday?

Her cousin David Marbra ventured a guess.

Wilson - possibly through associates - bought Latrice Marbra a plane ticket and offered $10,000 to stay away - at least that's what he heard, David Marbra told Circuit Judge Linda Babb and attorneys. He said in court Tuesday that his cousin was somewhere in the Philadelphia area and told him Monday she had no intention of returning.

Mike Barber, the victim's father, and Shawana Marbra, Latrice's cousin, also testified they had heard of the bribe.

But Wilson's attorney Aldo Ojeda Jr. said their testimony was hearsay.

"I don't think there was any validity to what these people were saying," Ojeda said. "This trial has been pending for a long time and on the eve of the trial they come up with this."

Tuesday wasn't the first time the issue of witness tampering came up in the case.

In April, Latrice Shawana Marbra told the St. Petersburg Times that White, 40, and Wilson, 32, tried to stop them from testifying about the shooting; White threatening them and Wilson offering bribes - $10,000 each.

On Tuesday, Babb ordered the state to find Latrice Marbra. If located, she will be held in the county jail until Dec. 11, the new trial date.

"If a witness is being tampered with, threatened or paid to not attend, we can certainly provide protection and make sure she attends through the county jail system," Babb said.

Assistant State Attorney Manuel Garcia requested Wilson's bond be revoked on the basis of tampering with a witness. Babb said there was not sufficient evidence at this point to send Wilson back to jail.

Gina Pace can be reached at 352 521-6518 or gpace@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 17, 2006, 22:44:43]