Arapahoe County – Three men indicted in the June 20 double homicide that killed a witness in a murder case appeared Monday morning together in court for the first time.
Chief District Judge John Leopold read the 23 counts against Robert Keith Ray, 20; Sir Mario Owens, 22; and Parish Ramon Carter, 24; in the shooting deaths of Javad Marshall-Fields and Vivian Wolfe.
The charges include first-degree murder. If convicted of the main charge, the men could face the death penalty. Whether prosecutors will seek that punishment will be decided after the defendants are arraigned.
Owens had an attorney Monday. Ray and Carter will have attorneys appointed at a hearing Thursday morning.
They spoke only when Leopold asked them if they understood the charges. Each answered, “Yes, sir.”
Also in court was Markeeta Ray, the sister of Robert Ray, charged with two counts of lying to the grand jury. She turned herself in and was out after posting $10,000 bail. Police are still looking for one of Ray’s associates, Marcus Ramsey, on the same charge.
Families of the victims from both the June 20 shooting and the July 4, 2004, homicide that killed Gregory Vann were in the courtroom Monday.
Prosecutors believe Vann’s death prompted the killings of Marshall-Fields and Wolfe.
Marshall-Fields’ sister, Maisha Pollard, flew in from out of state for the proceedings.
“I had to be here,” she said. “To see all three of them in the courtroom, it really sunk in.”
Marshall-Fields was a witness to Vann’s shooting in Aurora’s Lowry Park, telling police he saw Ray drive the getaway car.
The indictment also alleges Owens and Ray have continued to try to silence witnesses from talking about the June 20 shooting, making threatening phone calls from jail.
Christine Wolfe, Vivian Wolfe’s mother, said it was good to see the three men in court.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” she said. “I’ve wanted to see them all three together in the same room. It was really difficult.”
In a related case, Percy Carter Sr., Parish Carter’s father, pleaded not guilty to being an accessory in Vann’s homicide. He is accused of helping Ray and Owens elude police and disposing of their weapons. The judge scheduled a trial for Aug. 22.
Ray and Owens have been charged with first-degree murder in Vann’s death. On Monday, Judge Michael Spear delayed Ray’s trial, which was supposed to start this week.
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer may be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
