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Murder Trial Jury Hears Defendant's FBI Interview

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 27, 2009

TAMPA - Accused in the execution-style slaying of a Bartow drug dealer, Jermaine Michael Julian told investigators someone else was the gunman, according to evidence presented at his murder trial today.

Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Julian is convicted in the Oct. 19, 2006, slaying of Carlton Potts during a robbery of a drug house law enforcement refers to as "the Carter."

They say Julian and at least two other people forced their way into the house and beat the three occupants – Potts, Prayer Hamilton and Tyrone Williams. The three victims were forced to lie on the floor and Potts was shot.

The prosecution says Julian fired three more times, but the gun jammed each time.

Julian was interviewed by the FBI about a month after the robbery. A recording of that interview was played today for jurors.

In it, Julian said he was one of five robbers, including David Emanul Jones, who is serving 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to his part in the robbery and murder.

Julian said the three others were Nelson Canevil aka "Hershey," Korey McQueen aka "Oreo" and Lewis Ford aka "Bling."

He told investigators that "Hershey" shot Potts.

Julian said "Hershey" stood guard over the three victims while the rest of them searched the house for money and drugs. He said he found 80 to 90 bags of cocaine and about $5,000.

One of the victims "was not cooperating with Hershey," Julian said. "So I came out of the room, I see the dude crawling, crawling on the ground towards I think it's the back room, or might be the front room when you first get there. …Then like he got hit across the head. 'Oreo' hit him across the head … with a gun."

"Bling" and "Oreo" left, Julian said. On the way out, one of them dropped a stack of money.

"So I picked up the money," he told investigators. "Me and Jones, we telling Hershey to come on, everybody let's go, let's leave. He shot the gun … shot the gun twice."

"Who did?"

"Hershey."

After that, he said, "Everybody left."

The trial continues.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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