ORLANDO, Fla. — Markeith Loyd is on trial in Orange County, facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon.
Prosecutors said Loyd killed Dixon in 2016. A month later, they said, he shot Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton to death to avoid capture.
The current trial is only for Dixon's killing.
2:45 p.m.
Loyd told the judge he didn't sleep well last night.
The jury has left the courtroom for the day. The judge said on Wednesday morning the jury will hear instructions and closing arguments will begin.
The judge reminded the jury, again, that they are not allowed to discuss the case or ask questions regarding the case at any time other than when they enter the deliberation room. She said if they have questions, they need to write her a note directly.
At 1:30 p.m., lawyers are scheduled to return to the courtroom to discuss jury instructions.
The jury is done until closing arguments tomorrow morning. Right now Judge Marques is reminding them (again) to STOP TALKING ABOUT THE CASE WHEN THEY LEAVE THE COURTHOUSE.#WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
The judge called in two jurors to discuss an incident over dinner Monday night where there reportedly was confusion over what happens with regard to other portions of the case after this jury and trial is complete.
Neither the state nor defense are asking for additional inquiry or action.
Apparently that's as far as this goes. Neither side is asking for any additional inquiry or action. #WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
The judge sides with the defense and will not allow the video from Walmart showing the shooting of Lt. Debra Clayton to be shown.
Court is back in session, and the state said it wants to call a detective to the stand to introduce additional video from the Walmart where Loyd is accused of shooting Lt. Debra Clayton. They want to rebut the argument that Loyd was acting in self-defense that day.
The defense argues that that evidence turns this into a trial for Clayton's death, not Dixon's.
The defense argues putting the video into evidence in full turns this into a trial for the death of Lt. Clayton, instead of Sade Dixon. #WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
Markeith Loyd has concluded his testimony and the defense has rested its case. The court is now in a 10-minute recess.
Markeith Loyd said when he sent a text message to Sade Dixon stating "I hope you don't make it" it was a typo and he meant to say "I hope you do make it."
Loyd said he is the victim in this case and that none of what happened is his fault.
Ridgway: “None of this is your fault."
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
Loyd: "Nope."
Ridgway: "In fact, you’re really the victim here today."
Loyd: "Of course."
Ridgway: "No more questions.”#WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
Prosecutor Ric Ridgway is cross-examining Loyd, getting him to admit to all the times he avoided turning himself in, including to Lt. Debra Clayton at an Orange County Walmart.
Ridgway has been getting Loyd to admit all of the chances he avoided taking to turn himself in: “And you didn’t turn yourself in to Deb Clayton at the Walmart, did you?"
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
Loyd: "No."
Ridgway: "You saw her there."@TerryLenamon: "Objection.”#WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
Ridgway: “You bought a case of water and some food?"
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
Loyd: "Yes."
Ridgway: "Planning on staying low for a while?"
Loyd: "Yes.”#WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
Markeith Loyd said he went to "warrior mode" as he started shooting at Sade Dixon because he felt he was being attacked. He also said the only shots that were fired at the home were from his gun.
Ridgway: “Where’d you mind go?"
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
Loyd: "In defense mode. I went into warrior mode. I reacted because I was being attacked.”#WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
Ridgway: “So you went into war mode and you just started shooting."
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
Loyd: "Yep I was just shooting, just like that."
Ridgway: "Just shooting wildly?"
Loyd: "I was just shooting."
Ridgway: "Were you shooting at Sade?"
Loyd: "Yes.”#WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
Markeith Loyd said on the stand that he pulled the trigger of his gun when Sade Dixon put her hand on her gun.
Ridgway: “So you were trying to shoot her."
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
Loyd: "I pulled the trigger."
Ridgway: "Trying to shoot her."
Loyd: "I just told you I pulled the trigger. What else do you want me to say?”#WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
Markeith Loyd is back on the stand discussing Sade Dixon's pregnancy.
ASA Ric Ridgway is resuming his cross. #WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
Channel 9 reporter Field Sutton is tweeting live from the courtroom. He said Loyd's testimony is expected to begin around 10 a.m.
This trial pertains to the death of Loyd's ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon and her unborn baby. #WFTV #MarkeithLoyd
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 15, 2019
We are still waiting for court to begin. Don't forget to follow Channel 9 reporter Field Sutton on Twitter for live updates from the courtroom.
After a late night of testimony on Monday, court will resume later than usual, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Markeith Loyd admitted on the stand Monday he killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon and that he’d previously been violent with her before her death. But he said when he shot and killed her nearly three years ago, it was in self-defense.
“I’m being attacked. I fired two shots at the house,” Loyd said. “… It was self-defense.”
Loyd is expected to resume his testimony on Tuesday when court resumes at 9:30 a.m.
On Monday, Loyd detailed on the stand what led to his breakup with Dixon. He said she smoked pot and wasn’t a vegetarian like he is. He also said he had sex with another woman before he went to Dixon’s home the day she was shot. But he said he never meant to kill anyone.
“I just reacted,” he said.
He said he’d reacted violently to Dixon in the past.
Loyd said he “got angry and choked her” and “grabbed her by the throat.”
Watch raw videos of his testimony from Monday below:
Watch Eyewitness News This Morning for the latest updates from the trial, and follow Channel 9 reporter Field Sutton on Twitter for up-to-the-minute coverage from inside the courtroom.
Today’s is day 12 in the #MarkeithLoyd trial. Loyd took the stand yesterday saying her shot is pregnant ex girlfriend in self-defense. A juror was also dismissed. Watch @WFTV for more. Court resumes at 9am. pic.twitter.com/pRrNW2a0jO
— Q McCray (@QMcCrayWFTV) October 15, 2019
Click here to read in-depth coverage from Monday, and click here for a timeline of updates from day 11 in the courtroom.
DOWNLOAD: Free WFTV News & Weather Apps
Not near a TV? Click here to watch WFTV newscasts live
Cox Media Group