HOUSTON, Texas – Tuesday is day two of the murder trial for a former Houston Police Department narcotics officer charged with murder in connection to the deadly Harding Street raid in 2019.
On Monday, we heard opening statements from both sides, the state and the defense. The state argued that Goines’ lies led to the death of Dennis Tuttle, 59, and Rhogena Nicholas, 58, and their family dog.
While the defense team, who admitted Goines fabricated some things on the affidavit to receive the no-knock warrant and after the deadly raid while in the hospital, they argue that Goines is being “over-charged,” and did not murder nor cause the murder of Tuttle and Nicholas.
Goines pleaded not guilty to the two felony murder counts on Monday.
We also heard from three witnesses, one of Tuttles and Nicholas’ neighbors, and two HPD officers who responded to the original 911 call on Jan. 8, 2019. One of the officers, Nicole Blankenship-Reeves, documented the 911 call and turned over her information to HPD Lieutenant Marsha Todd, who oversaw Goines. Blankenship-Reeves admitted during her testimony that she had a personal relationship with Todd.
KPRC 2 Investigates team Reporter Mario Diaz, Senior Investigates Producer Jason Nguyen, Senior Special Projects Producer Andrea Slaydon, and Digital Content Specialist Ninfa Saavedra will be at the trial dishing out the latest updates for ‘The Bench: Gerald Goines.’
5:17 p.m. - Court has adjourned for the day
4:46 p.m. - Officer Rios now testifying after watching the video
Rios described the video and scene as “chaotic.”
At the 1:44 mark of the video, it shows officers at stacked right. Rios testifies that he did not hear officers say, “HPD” or “Search Warrant” as the stack of officers went into the home unannounced.
4: 33 p.m. Prosecutors play video of botched raid
Prosecutors play video of the raid, several shots were heard in the courtroom as jurors and Goines watched closely. Goines had his back to the jury, so they cannot see his facial reactions as the video was played, but had his hand on his head, leaning against his elbow on the table.
Judge Nelson was laser focused on the video playing.
The video is 95% audio as the officer is taking cover behind a vehicle, the showed the Houston Fire Department rolling up to the home.
In another part of the video, an officer still taking cover behind a vehicle as firefighters walk casually to the scene and back.
3:25 p.m. - Lt. Todd questioned by the defense
Defense Attorney Nicole Deborde scrutinized how the case information was passed from the HPD patrol to Goines.
Lt. Todd is passed as a witness and confirmed to the prosecution that HPD never found a Confidential Informant.
2:42 p.m. - Lt. Todd’s testimony continues
Lt. Todd said that she was working a second job in northern Houston when the raid occurred, but she heard an emergency through the radio. She recognized the voice of Sgt. Clemente Reyna requesting for help after an officer was shot. She immediately went to the hospital to help the families of wounded officers. While she was driving there, Officer Blankenship-Reeves contacted her to tell her what happened and who was hurt.
Days later, she was tasked by a HPD commander to start examining Gerald Goines.
Lt. Todd went into the hospital room that Goines was in and asked him who the confidential informant in the case was. Goines asked his wife to leave the room and responded in writing, because his jaw was wired shut. He wrote the name “Reece” on a sheet of paper and attempted to tear it up. He also wrote other information, including the following phrases: “in trouble for Bryant,” “cap mad,” “it’s all legit.”
Lt. Todd put the torn-up sheet of paper in her pocket. At a later time, she put the pieces together to recreate the “Reece” name that Goines provided.
2:22 p.m. - Jury returns, but leaves again nine minutes later
The prosecution asked Lt. Todd to go through HPD’s standard operating procedures regarding drug cases.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg entered the courtroom and sat directly behind the prosecution’s team.
A few minutes later, the jury was once again asked to exit the room for a conference between the prosecution and defense teams. At 2:35 p.m. DA Ogg leaves the courtroom after whispering words into prosecutor Tanisha Manning’s ear.
2:13 p.m. - Jury returns
23 minutes later, the jury returned, and Lt. Todd’s testimony continued.
1:50 p.m. - Jury asked to leave the courtroom
The jury was asked to leave the courtroom, because the defense and prosecutors had a disagreement over Todd’s testimony. The main disagreements revolve around what the jury should be allowed to hear regarding Todd’s work experience.
1:32 p.m. - Court back in session. Retired HPD Lt. Marsha Todd called to the stand
Lt. Todd testified that she received a report regarding drug activity at 7815 Harding St. and contacted Goines to look into the situation, adding that she was not his supervisor. The prosecutor asked her why she didn’t report the order through Goines’ supervisor, and she responds that she there was no policy saying she needed to do that. She said she knew it was a small case and Goines was familiar with the area, so she simply texted him giving him permission.
12:27 p.m. Officer Nicole Blankenship-Reeves was dismissed
Court on lunch.
12:08 p.m. - The defense passes the witness, Nicole Blankenship-Reeves - The state re-directs
During the state’s redirect examination, Attorney Manning questioned Blankenship-Reeves about aspects of the cross-examination conducted by Attorney Deborde. Specifically, Manning focused on the tactical gear worn by the narcotics officers during the raid on Tuttle and Nicholas’ home. Manning inquired about the lighting inside the Harding Street home, suggesting that it was dark because the couple had covered the windows with sheets to block out the heat and cold. Blankenship-Reeves acknowledged that, while the tactical gear was clearly identified as police equipment, the couple might not have been able to recognize the officers inside their dimly lit home.
10: 38 a.m. - Jurors brought into courtroom - HPD officer Nicole Blankenship-Reeves continues testimony
Officer Blankenship-Reeves described her involvement with the Harding Street 911 call on Jan. 8, weeks prior the deadly raid, where she was part of the secondary unit responding to a disturbance involving a weapon. The call was classified as a code 2, which could indicate a disturbance with a weapon or a recent shooting etc.
Blankenship-Reeves recounted that while responding to the call, a woman walking on the street talking on the phone mentioned that “the cops are at the dope house.”
Blankenship-Reeves said she was on the phone with Lt. Marsha Todd while out to dinner with Morales after responding to the call. She said that she took notes on the Harding Street case, which she later gave to Todd. She and Todd lived together.
Blankenship-Reeves testified that Lt. Todd instructed Morales to document the Harding Street call details. She then said sometime after Jan. 8 and before Jan. 28, she saw Tuttle outside with a white dog.
During the raid, which Blankenship-Reeves said happened after 4 p.m. on Jan. 28, on the stand, she said she wasn’t sure if the officers announced their presence before entering the home. Her statements from Jan. 29, following the raid, were reviewed by Attorney Nicole Deborde, which showed Blankenship-Reeves recalling hearing the officers announce themselves before entering the home.
10: 21 a.m. - Judge questions jurors about contact with dismissed juror
Judge Veronica Nelson questioned the remaining jurors about their contact with juror #9 on Monday, asking specifically if they had conversations with her about the testimonies or the case. Judge Nelson also asked the jurors if they saw any signs, photos or people discussing the trial on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.
10:20 a.m. - Juror excused
Juror #9 has been excused from the Gerald Goines murder trial on day 2 after telling Judge Veronica Nelson that she does not believe she could be fair in the case due to her remembering she had prior knowledge about the deadly raid. The juror said during one of the HPD officers’ testimony, she remembered she heard about the Harding Street raid and had discussed it previously. She also admitted to having a conversation on Monday after court ended for the afternoon with her cousin about the case. The judge dismissed the juror, and both sides agreed.