Ex-Alabama Player Darius Miles Denied Bond Again in Murder Case

Darius Miles, a former Alabama basketball player, was denied bond for the third time on Wednesday. This is the second time Judge Daniel F. Pruet has denied bond in this case.

Miles has been in jail without bond since January 15, 2023, when he and his friend, Michael Davis, were arrested for the murder of Jamea Harris. Investigators say Davis fired the gun, but it belonged to Miles. Both Davis and Miles were indicted on capital murder charges in March 2023.

On Wednesday, Judge Pruet also rejected a request to block statements Miles made to police on January 15, 2023. A separate request to exclude some testimony from earlier hearings was taken under advisement, meaning Pruet will decide on it later.

If the ruling on this request affects the previous decisions about bond or the suppression of evidence, Pruet may revisit those decisions.

Miles' defense attorneys argue that the incident was started by Cedric Johnson, Harris’s boyfriend, and that Miles gave the gun to Davis for protection. Davis’s lawyer claims Davis acted in self-defense, while prosecutors say Davis shot first.

A new bond hearing was held because the previous hearing occurred before the state decided to remove the death penalty option for Miles, who has pleaded not guilty.

Mary Turner, the lead attorney for Miles, suggested that if Miles were granted bond, they would agree to house arrest, an ankle monitor, and living with family friends. Despite this, Judge Pruet denied bond, stating, “The court’s view has not changed.”

Understanding the Motion to Suppress

Wednesday’s hearing was a continuation of a hearing from June. During that hearing, the defense argued that the statements Miles made to police before being read his Miranda rights should be excluded. They also argued that the Miranda warnings given to Miles were flawed, making any statements after the warnings invalid.

Pruet rejected this motion. During the June hearing, Captain Marty Sellers and Investigator Jeffrey Miller testified about Miles’ statements and the conditions under which they were made. Miller testified that Miles volunteered to go to the police station and was not handcuffed. The defense argued that Miles was effectively in custody at the apartment.

Body cam footage shown in court on Wednesday showed police telling individuals at the apartment that they could either provide information or be taken to the station in handcuffs.

What’s Next in the Case?

There is no new hearing scheduled at the moment. Next, Judge Pruet will rule on the defense’s motion to strike some of the testimony from the earlier suppression hearing. The defense argues that this testimony is irrelevant according to state and federal law.

District Attorney Hays Webb mentioned that the case might not go to trial until 2025, depending on how the judge manages the case load. Judge Pruet has asked for updates from the forensic sciences department, although Webb does not expect any issues.