CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Jayan Forrest, a material witness in last week’s “Hoover on the Grassy Knoll” trial, was charged with aggravated perjury after his testimony on Wednesday.
Forrest, 20, was charged as such because the false statement was made during an official proceeding, and the statement was material, or of great importance, to the case against Timothy “True” Hutcherson. According to court documents, this false statement was given in order to help the defense’s case.
Hutcherson was found guilty on all charges, including second-degree murder.
Aggravated perjury is a rare charge, police spokesman Detective Michael Patterson confirmed.
“You just don’t see a lot of it, people being charged with aggravated perjury,” Patterson told Clarksville Now. “It’s not a common charge. Especially when you have a recorded statement that contradicts the first statement.”
Versions of the shooting
Officially, there were three versions of the events on Nov. 11, 2017, that led to the shooting death of 21-year-old Devonte Wilkerson, and the shooting injury of a then-14-year-old-girl who is now 17.
Hutcherson said there were Hoovers, or members of a rival gang, outside the apartment. Despite also changing his story, Hutcherson stuck with the notion that there was someone else outside that fired the shots.
When initially interviewed by Detective Michael Ulrey, Forrest said no one else was outside the apartment. This contradicted Hutcherson’s versions.
On the third day of the trial, Forrest still had not been located to testify.
However, this was what Hutcherson wanted, according to a phone call played to the jury in open court Wednesday. About nine minutes into the call, Hutcherson tells his mother it was good that Forrest wasn’t coming to testify. Hutcherson’s mom asks him if he wanted Forrest at the trial.
“Hell nah,” Hutcherson said.
He added that if Forrest was coming, he needed to make sure his story matched up to that of the defendant.
Forrest arrives in court
An hour after the audio of the call was played, Forrest walked into the Montgomery County Courthouse, where he was arrested and then booked at the Montgomery County Jail.
When he was brought in to testify, the state played the video of Forrest’s initial interview with Ulrey.
Forrest admitted that his story had since changed, and that he too had lied. When questioned, he said that there were girls outside when he and Hutcherson arrived, along with other people at the party.
As Assistant District Attorney Lee Willoughby became frustrated, he asked Forrest, “Do you see that woman sitting there in the black and white?”
Forrest said he did see her, and she was instructed to stand up.
“That is Devonte’s mother. So for her, and for the jury, was there anyone outside of that apartment?”
“Yes sir,” Forrest said.
Forrest’s court date has been set for Oct. 6.