Accused Child Killers Could Soon Have Their Day In Court

Saturday, April 21st 2007, 4:27 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An Oklahoma County judge will decide next month whether two brothers accused of killing a 10-year-old boy during a drive-by shooting last year should stand trial.

Prosecutors on Friday finished presenting evidence in the preliminary hearing for Lamond Jemarr Simpkins, 23, and Ulyses Charles Simpkins, 18. The brothers shot Mack McCray on March 21, 2006, as they tried to retaliate against a rival gang member they had a confrontation with the day before, according to court documents.

Special District Judge Greg Ryan will not decide until May 11 whether the brothers will go to trial on murder charges.

State Corrections Department inmate Ross Lane, who played cards and dominoes with Lamond Simpkins several times last spring in the Oklahoma County jail, testified that Lamond Simpkins told him he was involved in the shooting with his brother and two others.

The group parked down the street from the child's house in northwest Oklahoma City and looked in a window before the shooting started, Lane said.

``He just said they started shooting,'' Lane said. ``He didn't say who.''

Lamond Simpkins told him a man he knew as Miracle was the intended target, Lane said.

``He thought it was Miracle laying in the bed,'' he said.

Lane is serving an eight-year sentence for robbery, but said he did not get any deals from authorities in exchange for his testimony.

Attorneys for the Simpkins brothers questioned his credibility, especially after he claimed he pleaded guilty to a crime he did not commit.

``This man is willing to say whatever he has to say to suit his purposes,'' said attorney Gina Walker.

Besides deciding whether the pair should stand trial, Ryan also must decide whether Ulyses Simpkins will be tried as an adult or a youthful offender.

He was 17 at the time of the shooting.