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Murder suspect's lawyer goes on the offensive

Thursday, March 16, 2006

(New York -WABC, March 15, 2006) (WABC) -- The attorney for the prime suspect in the murder of Immete Saint Guillen says he has new evidence tonight that casts a serious doubt on NYPD's claim that his client killed the college student.

Eyewitness News reporter Marcus Solis live outside the courthouse in downtown Brooklyn with more.

Darryl Littlejohn's lawyer is going on the offensive, he says, because it will be impossible for his client to get a fair trial. But before there is a trial there has to be an indictment and that is likely to happen within the next few days.

Like everyone else, Kevin O'Donnell is waiting. His client, Darryl Littlejohn, could be charged with first degree murder as early as next week.

A Brooklyn grand jury is hearing evidence that police say links the bar bouncer to the murder of Imette Saint Guillen. Police say the ties used to bind the victim's hands had traces of his blood. But Littlejohn's lawyer says he has concerns about the police investigation.

For example: the blue van in Littlejohn's driveway. O'Donnell says it can't be the vehicle Saint Guillen got into the night she was killed.

Kevin O'Donnell, Defense Attorney: "That van has been in his driveway for the last three months. The axel is damaged and that car, if it's able to run, can't go anymore than 20 miles an hour without stalling."

Police say they have linked Littlejohn's cell phone records to the area near where the graduate student's naked, bound and mutilated body was found in East New York.

Fibers from carpet in his home are similar to those found on packing tape covering Saint Guillen's head. Even though much of the evidence appears to be circumstantial, O'Donnell expects his client to be indicted.

Kevin O'Donnell, Defense Attorney: "Mr. Littlejohn is not going to get a fair trial because the entire public, including the jury pool has read nothing but all of these damning reports against my client and quite frankly, I don't blame the public for feeling this way, but the fact is the process is being tainted."

A panel of 23 men and women heard evidence for a second day. A simple majority is all that's required for them to vote yes on an indictment. Sources say that could happen early next week.

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