CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The murder trials of three men began Tuesday, Jan. 21 and a jury heard why they allegedly conspired to murder a 21-year-old Clarksville man in broad daylight three years ago to the date.
On Jan. 21, 2017 at approximately 3 p.m., Antonio “Tinka” Henson , 21, was found lying in the middle of Kellogg Street with multiple gunshot wounds in his back. He was taken to Tennova hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Michael Mimms and Tavarius Goliday are charged with one count of premeditated first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Goliday is also charged with reckless endangerment for allegedly firing a .22 caliber gun putting three women and a four-year-old child in imminent danger. Davayon Head is also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Kevonte White, the fourth man charged, is accused of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and tampering with evidence on allegations he conspired with Mimms, Goliday and Head to murder Henson and then allegedly disposed of the weapon in a pond on his girlfriend’s family farm in Bowling Green, Ky. He did not stand trial with the trio, and will “cooperate” according to his attorney.
Michael Mimms, left, and Davayon Head, at trial. Travis Meeks represents Head.
Motive
During opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Lee Willoughby told the jury the case had a lot of details and would show Henson, the victim, and Davayon Head had issues over drugs, specifically two pills valued at about $150.
Willoughby said text messages would be evidence of their “beef” and later Head told Mimms and Goliday about the issue.
The testimony of the fourth co-defendant, White, and his girlfriend, would tell what led up to the shooting and how each defendant was involved in the planning and execution of Henson, Willoughby said.
A video from a Kellogg Street home showed what happened the minutes before Henson was shot multiple times. At one point Goliday and Henson crossed paths behind the home. Then Goliday could be seen leaving. Soon after Henson was seen running down Kellogg Street and collapsing after being shot. The video showed people running to assist him and then police and an ambulance arriving.
“All that over 2 pills worth $150,” Willoughby said. “It’s pretty senseless. He didn’t deserve to lose his life over it.”
Questionable Eye witnesses and Evidence
Stephanie Ritchie, Goliday’s attorney, told the jury “they may never know why this happened,” and the state’s case would produce lots of inconsistent stories not supported by evidence and witnesses with questionable credibility.
Eyewitnesses described a man in a gray car with a hat on and a gray Hoodie as the shooter. Goliday had on a brown Hoodie and was in a maroon car, she said.
Goliday had no motive to kill Henson and had no problems with him, she said.
The state’s key witness is a person “trying to save his own skin” and “telling a tale,” yet confesses to having the murder weapon, Ritchie said of White.
Goliday, Mimms, and White are cousins.
“Mr. Goliday did not shoot anyone and the physical evidence and eye witness testimony will show you that,” Ritchie said to the jury.
Crystal Myers, Mimm’s attorney, said Mimms was not guilty. At the time of the shooting, he was 18-years-old, from Guthrie, Ky. and if anything in the car with his cousin, Goliday, when the shooting occurred. To find him guilty, the state must prove he agreed to kill someone.
“This is all based on a 52-second video,” Myers said. “He didn’t murder anyone.”
Travis Meeks, who represents Head, said the state witnesses will prove that his client, a Montgomery County resident, was no part of a plan to murder and did not dispose of a gun. Head was not in Bowling Green, Ky. the day of the murder but was at his mom’s house in Clarksville, Meeks said.
Meeks said the testimony of White and his girlfriend would exonerate his client because there was never a discussion about killing Henson.
“There’s no proof for a conviction,” Meek said.
The state called their first few witnesses, Clarksville Police officers and detectives to testify about evidence they collected during the investigation.
The trial will resume, Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 8:30 a.m.