A Los Angeles County judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors could proceed with murder charges against two men accused of murdering a university administrator, despite not presenting the motive for the brave murder at LA Live.
Sidney Barrett Morris, 43, an official at Cal State Northridge, had dinner two years ago.
Prosecutors charged two men, Santana Kelly and Philip Clark, with murders based on surveillance video, phone records, prison calls and other evidence. They claim that Clark is the shooter and that Kelly coordinated the murder.
Kelly and Clark’s lawyers asked the judge to dismiss the case due to lack of evidence, claiming that the prosecutors had not established a relationship with Morris.
Kelly’s lawyer, Deion Benjamin, said the prosecutors have only proven that he helped his client destroy the getaway vehicle.
“He was called to burn the car if you believe the evidence,” he told David Heliford of Superior Court.
Clark’s lawyer said that his client is just a detective’s “speculation” that he is a masked gunman.
“It sounds like they have a theory,” said Gino Osehobo, who represents Clark. “No endorsing evidence, but supporting it.”
Heliford objected and determined he had seen enough to allow him to proceed with the case.
The murder occurred on November 28, 2023, when the White Ford escape stopped along the curb near Fixins Soul Kitchen, a LA Live restaurant.
The shooter wore a black tracksuit with white trim, a black balaclava and a baseball cap with the words “No F-gie given.”
Detectives at the Los Angeles Police Department have identified Clark as a suspected gunman. They testified that Kelly was a conspirator and pointed to a video he was filmed on his cell phone, reportedly casing Morris’ apartment.
“I think it would be better to take him elsewhere, not this,” Kelly said in a video filmed a month before Morris was killed.
Police said other video footage showed Kelly giving the suspicious shooter a baseball cap “No F-gie” and later holding a vast straw hat worn by a escape driver who has not yet been identified.
Detectives say mobile phone records show that Clark and Kelly’s devices are moving after the murder to Palmdale.
Det even after searching the suspect’s phone, home, car and hearing the prison call. Martin Mojaro said the authorities were unaware of the motive.
“Not yet. I hope,” Mojaro said.
Clark and Kelly, who maintain their innocence, will be arrested on June 5th.
Times staff reporter Matthew Ormseth contributed to this report.
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