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Wednesday, 13 December 2006 00:28

Preliminary Hearing For David Jackson Reveals Ione Murder Details

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slide2A preliminary hearing was held before Judge David Richmond last Friday on the matter of murder charges facing Ione resident David Jackson.  Jackson is accused of murder, elder abuse and receiving stolen property in the murder of John Baker, 73 years old, of Ione.  During the preliminary hearing, Officer Garrett Henderson of the Ione Police Dept. testified that the body of Ione resident John Baker was discovered by his caretaker at about 4 pm. on 7/26.  Officer Henderson secured the scene and called the DA's Office for assistance. Officer Henderson testified that he had also spoke with the defendant's sister, who called police twice in the early morning hours of 7/26 to report that the defendant had called her claiming to have killed a 13 year old boy in a fight.  Officer Henderson contacted the defendant outside of his apartment a little after 1 am. on 7/26.

slide5Jackson had an injured right hand and his knife sheath was empty.  Henderson also testified that during a subsequent search of defendant's apartment he found a pair of denim shorts that appeared to have blood stains on them. Shirley Westphall, a resident of Jose's Place, testified that between 7-9 pm about 2-3 weeks prior to the murder she was having trouble sleeping so she thought a walk in the halls would tire her out.  She walked to the other end of the complex near where victim Baker's apt. was located.  She heard two voices she identified as John Baker and David Jackson having a loud conversation.  She testified Jackson was asking Baker for money.  Baker said that he could not loan Jackson anymore money, and that Jackson hadn't paid him for the money he borrowed previously.  Baker said he hadn't got his check yet.  Jackson replied, "You know when your check comes, you'll pay me some money or I'll kill you." 

slide8Westphall told her caretaker, who urged her to report the conversation to the police following Baker's murder. DA Investigator Noel Dunne testified that while the crime scene was being processed, he saw the defendant walk past his position with a bag that he apparently deposited in the garbage dumpster at the complex.  Dunne retrieved the bag, which was found to contain a grey tank top shirt with red stains on it, a pair of black sandals with red stains which tested positive for blood, Golden 1 Credit Union checks with the victim's name on them, a white GE cordless telephone, and a "Go Video" brand DVD remote. Dunne checked the victim's apt. and found a GE phone base and a "Go Video" brand DVD player.  Dunne also collected 4 suspected blood samples from defendant's apt. DA Investigator Larry Waller testified as to the crime scene processing and evidence collection and the wounds he observed on Baker.

DA Investigator John D'Agostini testified that after initially giving investigators a false story of his whereabouts the night of 7/25 and the early morning hours of 7/26, the defendant admitted to the killing of Baker.  Jackson said that he and Baker had been involved in an argument and Baker threw a framed photo at Jackson which broke cutting Jackson's hand.  Jackson said he then hit Baker in the face, "Pretty hard for a white boy," causing Baker to lose consciousness.  After about 10 minutes, Jackson said Baker regained consciousness and hit Jackson in the groin area.  Jackson said he "saw red", hit Baker, and then he doesn't remember anything until he was standing over Baker with a knife dripping blood, watching Baker dead.

  Jackson told D'Agostini that he tried to "clean his tracks."  Jackson admitted to taking Baker's check book, phone and DVD remote because they might have his fingerprints on them.  D'Agostini also testified that he had spoken with Dr. Mark Super of the Sacramento Coroner's Office who performed the forensic autopsy of Baker's body.  Dr. Super told D'Agostini that the cause of death was sharp and blunt force injuries to Baker's neck and head.  Dr. Super told D’Agostini that he could not rule out that the victim was also strangled and tortured. Judge Richmond held the defendant to answer on all charges and found true the fact that Jackson used a deadly weapon to commit the crimes, a knife.  Jackson returns to court for arraignment on the Information on 12/29 at 1 p.m.

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