Ex-Alabama basketball player Darius Miles gets trial date in capital murder case
Ex-Alabama basketball player Darius Miles is set to go on trial for capital murder later this year.
In court today in Tuscaloosa, Judge Daniel F. Pruet set the date for the week of Dec. 1. The trial is expected to last at least a week.
That’s how long the trial spanned for Miles’ friend Michael Davis, who was tried separately and found guilty of capital murder for the 2023 shooting death of Jamea Harris.
Prosecutor Paula Whitley said that the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s office this week offered Miles a plea deal. She declined to say what the deal entailed.
“I’m not going to discuss that,” she told reporters after court.
Davis was offered the same plea deal but declined it.
Miles has been in jail without bond since the day of the shooting, Jan. 15, 2023, when he was charged with capital murder. Miles was removed from the Alabama men’s basketball team that day.
Prosecutors said Miles owned the gun that his longtime friend used to shoot Harris near the Strip in Tuscaloosa two and a half years ago.
The jury found Davis guilty of shooting into a Jeep and killing Harris.
After the hearing Friday, Whitley was asked how Miles will be prosecuted compared to how her office prosecuted Davis.
“I’m sure it will be different,” Whitley said. “We have a lot of information and I’m sure we’ll explore every avenue.”
At trial, Davis argued that he acted in self-defense during a dispute with Harris’ boyfriend, Cedric Johnson. Johnson also fired a gun that night and hit Davis in the shoulder. But the jury found that the shooting wasn’t justified, as prosecutors argued Davis fired first.
Davis is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“We believe this is partial justice for Jamea,” said Whitley after the Davis conviction. “It’s not over.”
Turner previously stated in court that Miles provided the gun to Davis for protection. Turner did not answer questions from reporters Friday.
Life without parole is the only possibility if Miles is found guilty of capital murder. The prosecution decided to take the death penalty off the table for both Davis and Miles.
Read more: Texts between Brandon Miller, Darius Miles before fatal shooting revealed in capital murder trial
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
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