FROM: HOLLEY
CARNRIGHT
DATE: OCTOBER
28, 2015
RE: PRESS
RELEASE – TAQUAN WEBB
________________________________________________________________
POUGHKEEPSIE
MAN ACQUITTED BY AN ULSTER COUNTY JURY
In a trial of the shooting at
Murphy’s, a New Paltz Restaurant & Pub on April 20, 2014, the Ulster County
jury acquitted Taquan Webb of his charges for murder and assault following 1½
days of deliberations.
The case stemmed from the Easter shooting of
Ryan Gray of Poughkeepsie in Murphy’s by confessed murdered Basheem
Bennett. Following his plea of guilty to
Murder and Assault Bennett entered into an agreement to testify against Webb
for the promise of a reduced sentence.
Basheem Bennett’s cooperation and
testimony was instrumental in the indictment and prosecution of Taquan Webb for
his role in the death of Ryan Gray and serious injury to Samantha David.
Had he testified, Bennett was
expected to point to Webb as the individual behind the plan to kill Gray and
that Webb had procured the murder weapon from “the bricks”, (Smith Street
projects) in Poughkeepsie and that, following Gray’s execution Webb disposed of
the murder weapon.
Bennett’s anticipated testimony,
supported by cell phone tower records would have showed that Webb accompanied
Bennett to Murphy’s from Poughkeepsie just before the shooting and was with
Bennett as they fled back to Poughkeepsie following the murder. One witness, an
associate of both Webb and Bennett, testified that Webb entered Murphy’s Bar
with Bennett stating “we’re going to put holes in that nigg….”
During the trial, both through
counsel and on the stand outside the presence of the jury, Bennett invoked his
right to remain silent and answered that he would refuse to answer any
questions regarding the crime. He
indicated that he knew he would not be permitted to withdraw his previously
entered plea of guilty, and he persisted in his refusal to testify as he had
agreed to do at the time of his plea last November. Under NYS Rules of Criminal Procedure, Bennett’s
out of court sworn statements cannot be introduced into evidence.
Webb, also, did not testify at the
trial nor did he call any witnesses. His
attorney argued to the jury that there was insufficient evidence to prove that
Webb had the knowledge and intent that Gray would be executed.
“It sometimes happens, as was the
case here, that relevant, important, information cannot be presented to the
jury and the jury is asked to make a very difficult decision without all of the
proof that is available. I respect the
jury’s decision, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this
crime who, understandably, feel that justice was not well served today”, stated
Ulster County DA Holley Carnright.
