CASSOPOLIS — Edwin Johnson III’s defense of Jaren Wade rested Friday afternoon.
With a full docket before Cass County Circuit Judge Michael Dodge on Monday, a jury of seven men and five women returns at 9 a.m. Tuesday for closing arguments by Johnson and Prosecutor Victor Fitz, instructions from Dodge on law to apply and, finally, deliberations.
Dodge denied on April 20 Johnson’s motion for a directed verdict of not guilty of first-degree murder because premeditation in the April 13, 2011, shooting death of Darius Nickens, 28, outside 210 Grand Blvd. in Dowagiac hadn’t been proven.
“Bad blood” between Nickens and Wade, 20, who did not testify, was evident the night before during a dice game scuffle, said Fitz, who painted a portrait of a man bent on revenge for his rug-burned face. Johnson countered that Wade’s weapon wasn’t even ready and had to be racked before it could fire three shots.
Johnson’s fourth and final witness, who took the stand after jurors’ mid-afternoon break, was conflicted Kalen Nickens, 19, niece of the victim and mother of a child with Wade. She was “caught between twixt and tween” by her love for both men, Johnson said. She has known Wade since she was 10. They became a couple when she was “14 or 15.”
Kalen said they “fought all the time like any normal couple,” but denied a statement made to Deputy Sheriff Kim Purlee that he was physically abusive, which contributed to Darius’ dislike.
“I don’t think they liked each other very much,” Kalen conceded, adding that Jaren wouldn’t admit it, but feared her uncle, who meant what he said and was “like my dad” and “showed me love all the time.”
She said Wade could be possessive and was “wrong for what he did.”
She only knew about verbal exchanges between the two men — no physical confrontations — prior to the fateful dice game.
Another defense witness, Yvette Young, a friend who drove him to Grand Boulevard, said Wade looked “messed up” after Nickens “jumped on” him, but “he was fine” in temperament and seemed to be in a good mood the next day rather than angry.
Because Wade stayed at her house, police searched “for a whole week” following up on a tip he was concealed under the floorboards.
Young said Wade did phone and express remorse about Nickens’ death.