JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Several associates of a man on trial for murder, criminal conspiracy and several counts of tampering with a witness in what prosecutors said was an arranged killing of a witness to a previous crime testified Thursday under conditions that their faces, voices and names could not be made public.
The state claims Quintae Hudson, 25 is a member of a gang and arranged gang members to kill a witness to a previous crime while Hudson was behind bars waiting trial on that charge.
Hudson is charged with the murder of 62-year-old Michael Wright, who was shot and killed on Easter Sunday 2016 at the Hollybrook Apartments on Kings Street. Wright had given a deposition identifying Hudson as the man who threw a concrete block through the windshield of a car with a couple and child inside, and was on the witness list for Hudson's trial on that charge.
According to court documents, Hudson can be heard on jail recordings asking that Wright be "handled" and "taken care of." It is expected those recording will be played for the jury at some point in the trial.
In court Thursday, the state tried to prove that Hudson was a member of a gang and directed gang associates to eliminate Wright. Prosecutors showed jurors letters from Hudson to associates, photos of Hudson's tattoos and photos of him with reputed gang members.
Hudson's attorney focused on gang ranking, arguing his client couldn't directly order that someone be killed based on his membership status.
He also said the state's evidence doesn't prove that his client was in a gang at all.
The state will continue when court resumes Friday. Police have not charged anyone as the triggerman who shot Wright, but prosecutors believe that the jail recordings is enough evidence to prove Hudson is guilty of murder
It is not known if Hudson will take the stand in his own defense.