Murder trial opens for 1999 shooting

Web posted Wednesday, November 1, 2000

 Have a thought? Go to the @ugusta Forums.

By Sandy Hodson
Staff Writer

Forty-five seconds, a minute tops, and it was all over, Thomas Reynolds told a Richmond County Superior Court jury Tuesday.

In about that time the night of Sept. 17, 1999, Ronald Davenport lay fatally wounded in the parking lot of the American Legion on Highland Avenue and Michael Kidd jumped back in his car and left, said Mr. Reynolds, a witness at Mr. Kidd's trial, which began Tuesday.

Michael Kidd: Defendant has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the death of Ronald Davenport. FILE/STAFF

Mr. Kidd has pleaded not guilty to charges of felony and malice murder and a weapons violation in the death of Mr. Davenport, 23.

``This much is true: Ronald Davenport died in the parking lot of the American Legion after a confrontation,'' defense attorney Peter Johnson told the jury in his opening statement.

But it wasn't murder; it was self-defense, Mr. Johnson said. Mr. Davenport pulled the gun that went off as Mr. Kidd and Mr. Davenport struggled for control of the weapon, the attorney said.

But Assistant District Attorney Michael Carlson told the jury in his opening statement that what happened that night wasn't self-defense. ``The evidence will show clearly this victim was unarmed.'' The confrontation between the two men that night ended with Mr. Davenport shot in the back, the prosecutor said.

``This case is about his guilt,'' Mr. Carlson said of this week's trial of Mr. Kidd. ``It's not about putting the victim on trial.'' The trial is not, Mr. Carlson said, about what happened between Mr. Davenport and Mr. Kidd's sister weeks earlier.

What happened Sept. 17, 1999, is related, Mr. Johnson told the jury. In late July, months after Mr. Davenport and Natasha Kidd ended a romantic relationship, Mr. Davenport broke down her front door and attacked Ms. Kidd in her home, the defense attorney said.

On Sept. 17, 1999, Mr. Kidd followed Mr. Davenport to get a license plate number for the police, Mr. Johnson said.

Mr. Reynolds was sitting in his vehicle at the American Legion parking lot when the drivers of two vehicles that had pulled up began fighting, he testified. He couldn't tell whether Mr. Kidd had a gun, but Mr. Davenport did not have a weapon when the fight started, Mr. Reynolds testified.

Within 45 second to a minute, he heard three gunshots, and the men dropped to their knees, Mr. Reynolds testified. ``Then the victim stood up and staggered about 15 feet away,'' and the other man got back in his car and drove away.

Testimony in Mr. Kidd's trial continues today.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226.

Submit Your Opinion Name: Email: Enter your comments here