Witness in Chester murder trial stumbles in testimony

Days after Rahim Hicks was shot dead outside a Chester restaurant, Kandie Meinhart gave police a statement implicating Jamir Williams, her child's father, as the shooter.

Less than two weeks ago, she met with prosecutors to prepare for his trial.

But in testimony Wednesday in Delaware County Court, Meinhart said she could not remember many details - even after prosecutors played her taped statement for the jury.

The sudden bout of forgetfulness from what was supposed to be a key witness frustrated Assistant District Attorney Sandra Urban, who asked that Meinhart be treated as a hostile witness on the second day of Williams' trial.

It also gave Williams' attorney an opportunity to challenge her credibility.

Williams, 29, is being tried in the July 2010 shooting of Hicks, 21, after the two men allegedly argued outside a restaurant on Kerlin Street.

In a statement to police, Williams said he was outside the restaurant when a man named Terrell came up behind him and shot Hicks.

But witnesses saw only Williams at the scene, prosecutors say.

Meinhart previously told detectives that she was on the phone with Williams at the time of the shooting.

But she then testified that she did not recall her statement to police that she was on the phone, that she heard four shots, that Williams told her he had "no choice" but to shoot Hicks, and that he asked her to take the gun.

"It was four years ago," Meinhart said. "So much has happened after that, I don't remember any of that."

Only after Urban asked Meinhart three times did she agree that the voice on the taped statement was hers.

Her apparent reluctance on the stand also proved to be fodder for defense attorney Michael Wiseman.

Under questioning, she agreed she was angry at Williams and said she had lied to police about him.

Wiseman also pointed out that she took the time Wednesday morning to post a message on Facebook.

"I'm headed up to Media Courthouse today. It's the last day of this man's trial," the message said. "I pray everything goes smooth and perfect so he can come home to his family and friends. We love and miss him very much. So all day I'm going to be praying for this man. His kids need him."

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@MariSchaefer