Defendants Testify Against Each Other in Double Homicide Trial 

By Shiloh Eschbach [former] - November 21, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Nov. 16, prosecutors of a 53-year-old defendant argued in Baltimore City Circuit Court that he killed his drug dealer as payback for physical abuse their mutual lover had suffered. But his co-defendant had a different story.

Shawn Brewton, 53, is charged along with his codefendant, 49-year-old Michael Corprew, with two counts of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction in connection to the deaths of William Smith and Santiago Loyal. 

The prosecution relied on cell phone tracking data to show that both defendants’ phones moved to the locations of each murder and at the same time, though they suggested no motive for Brewton to have shot 41-year-old Loyal.

Before Judge Dana M. Middleton, the prosecution also reminded the court of Corprew’s testimony against Brewton. Corprew previously refused to cooperate with the prosecution against Brewton as part of a plea deal, but since reversed his decision. As Brewton also testified as a witness, the prosecution told the jury that the witnesses both had their problems, but asked the jury to use their life experiences to gauge which was telling the truth. 

The prosecution stated the series of events sounded improbable. They argued that Brewton, as the last witness, had the opportunity to hear what everyone else said and craft a non-contradictory story, but said he should have come up with a better one.

The prosecution repeated Corprew’s testimony that he went with Brewton to Smith’s house because he thought they were going there to beat him physically. Corprew allegedly heard the first four shots that killed Smith and then saw Brewton stand over Smith shooting him two more times, and then Corprew’s friend, who was also present, shot him one final time.

Brewton’s testimony was that he picked Corprew and his friend up in his car and the friend gave him heroin, which he took. He then passed out and woke up no more than an hour- and -a -half later, to discover Corprew’s friend driving his car. The three of them separated and happened to arrive at Smith’s house at the same time. Corprew wanted to buy drugs from Smith but didn’t have enough money and brandished his gun. Brewton jumped in front of Smith, was shot in the hand and then fled the house. 

The prosecution argued that Brewton’s motive for killing Smith was that he abused their mutual lover. However, during Brewton’s testimony, he said that if his lover kept going back to her abusive partner, that’s up to her. The prosecution later criticized Brewton’s character by saying that he thought domestic abuse was okay as long as it didn’t leave a mark.

The prosecution additionally argued Brewton’s text messages to his son and to Corprew showed his guilt. He texted his son, “I don’t know what the future holds for me now.” Brewton also texted Corprew to tell him that he was erasing everything on his phone, and that he would get in contact with him when their cases were cleared up.

In summation, the prosecution told the jury that, “Mr. Brewton cannot stand before you and be the judge, jury and executioner of William Smith.”

Defense attorney Kenneth Man noted the prosecution claimed Brewton went to Smith’s house to murder him because he was angry at him for abusing their mutual lover. Man then asked why, in both Corprew and Brewton’s testimony, did Corprew enter Smith’s house first?

Man also attempted to show Corprew wasn’t a reliable witness. He highlighted testimony Corprew gave about him leaving Smith’s apartment, which appeared inconsistent with video evidence. 

He also asked why Corprew testified that he had no reaction to Loyal being shot in front of him.

Man said the cell phone tracking data, which he asserted showed Brewton and Corprew’s cell phones starting together, then separating and then coming back together supported Brewton’s testimony.

Man said Brewton’s claim of passing out is credible in that fentanyl is commonly found in heroin and is likely what caused Brewton to lose consciousness.

According to charging documents from the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers found 41-year-old Loyal on the 1200 block of Cliftview Avenue on Aug. 11, 2021, and 38-year-old Smith lying in the first-floor entryway of his residence on the 3500 block of West Belvedere Avenue, suffering from seven gunshot wounds. It was estimated that Smith was killed about a half an hour later after Loyal. Ballistics evidence showed that the same gun was used in both murders.