Ex-Alabama player Darius Miles indicted on capital murder charges

TUSCALOOSA,Ala. (AP) — Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles andanother man have been indicted by a grand jury on capital murdercharges for the January shooting death of a 23-year-old woman nearcampus, defense lawyers confirmed to The Associated Press onFriday.

Miles wascharged with capital murder in the shooting death of Jamea Harris,his defense lawyer Mary Turner told the AP. Michael Davis, whopolice investigators said was the triggerman, was also indicted,his lawyer, John Charles Robbins, said.

TuscaloosaCounty District Attorney Hays Webbtold AL.com that the indictmentsagainst Miles and Davis, who’ve been held without bond since theirarrest, were issued on Wednesday.

Harris wassitting in a car when she was struck by a bullet. A policeinvestigator testified last month that Miles provided the handgunDavis allegedly used in the shooting.

During acourt hearing last month, Turner suggested Miles was in a defensiveposture when he told Davis where the gun was located.

Butprosecutors maintained there was ample evidence to pursue chargesin the shooting, which happened early Jan. 15 on “The Strip,” adistrict of bars and restaurants near the Tuscaloosa campus.Testimony at the hearing last month indicated there had been sometype of verbal altercation before the shooting.

The TurnerLaw Group, which is representing Miles, issued a statement Friday,saying they were disappointed by the decision to pursue capitalmurder charges “considering the evidence uncovered during ourinvestigation and the obvious weaknesses in the government’s casebrought to light during the preliminary hearing.”

Davismaintains he is innocent, Robbins, his attorney, said. “I lookforward to the opportunity to vigorously defend Michael at trialand to defend his right to protect himself when somebody points agun at him and shoots him,” Robbins said.

Miles was areserve on the Crimson Tide, but an ankle injury sidelined him forthe rest of the season.After he was charged in January,Alabama said he was “removed from campus” and the team.

During theFebruary court hearing, Tuscaloosa Police investigator BrandonCulpepper testified that Miles texted Tide freshman basketball starBrandon Miller to bring him his gun. Police have said anotherplayer, guard Jaden Bradley, also was at the scene.

NeitherMiller nor Bradley have been charged with anything.

“This wholesituation is just really heartbreaking, but respectfully that’s allI’m going to be able to say on that,”Miller toldreportersWednesday in his first public comments about thecase.

Both Millerand Bradley have continued to play as the No. 4-ranked team in thecountry makes its way through the Southeastern ConferenceTournament ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Miller scored 18 pointsand had nine rebounds in Friday’s SEC quarterfinal win overMississippi State.

In thepostgame news conference, Miller was asked his thoughts on theindictment. He said, “I can’t — I’m not going to be able to say onthat.”

Coach NateOats was asked whether he has a weapons policy for his team, andsaid that “our players are required to follow the university policyon guns, which essentially bans them on campus.”

He also wasasked who was involved in deciding whether Miller and Bradley couldcontinue to play.

“It’s been adifficult situation, as you understand. I mean, we’re dealing witha criminal matter,” Oats said, adding that as the school received“facts from law enforcement as they do their investigation,” “thiswas a decision made, based on all the facts we had, with,obviously, my boss, (Director of Athletics) Greg Byrne; his boss,(President) Dr. (Stuart) Bell; and the Board of Trustees.

“Andeverybody was comfortable, and based on the information we had,Brandon didn’t break any school policy or team policy, so ... I wascomfortable with the decision that was made.”

Harris’mother told reporters last month that she is frustrated by thefocus on basketball instead of her daughter’s death. She said herdaughter was a beautiful person who was trying to have a night outwith friends when she was killed.

“She has a5-year-old son that is still waiting for his mother to come home,”DeCarla Heard told reporters. “I want justice for my grandson.”

Oats wasasked Friday whether he has spoken to Harris’ family.

“Listen, thiswhole situation has been, obviously, as you know, hard to dealwith, tragic, to have any involvement in a young woman losing herlife. What you ask is a private matter. I’m not going to discusspublicly with everybody,” he said. “A lot of this is just hard todeal with, to be honest with you. But it’s a private matter.”