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Accused cop killer Markeith Loyd appears before judge

Published  November 27, 2018 11:07pm EST
News
FOX 35 Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - Tuesday was a long day in Orange County court, as a judge ruled on more than 70 motions in the State’s case against alleged cop-killer Markeith Loyd. Loyd's defense team had a pre-hearing huddle around the defendant before they came out swinging - against Judge Fred Lauten.

“You have been involved in all of this stuff with the police, we have this situation where for literally eight days the largest manhunt in Orange County has taken place, and you're in the middle of it,” said defense attorney Terence Lenamon.

Lenamon wants a hearing on whether the Judge Lauten should recuse himself from the case. Lauten said he would not stop the proceedings. “It was done for efficiency and so the other judges could operate on a full caseload while this case was pending,” he said.

Loyd's lawyers then attacked prosecutors, saying they're holding back the name of every law enforcement officer involved in Loyd's search and arrest after he allegedly killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon and Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton.

“I want them to turn over everything they have so far - their statements they've taken, everything they have in their possession, I want,” Lenamon said.

Prosecutors fired back. “There is nothing I'm hiding, no other information I'm aware of. I know nothing of what happened at the time of the defendant's arrest that Mr. Lenamon doesn't know,” replied State Attorney Ric Ridgway.

The defense team claimed police were on a mission to do more than just arrest Markeith Loyd. “They were sent in - for lack of a better explanation - as a kill squad,” Lenamon said.

Lenamon wrapped it all up by attacking the victim - claiming Sade Dixon had guns and knew how to use them. Dixon's mother, Stephanie Dixon-Daniels, said not true. “She was a sweet person, she was all about her kids and her family.”

Defense attorneys also said they planned to call orange county prosecutor Aramis Ayala as a witness. Governor Scott removed Ayala from the case after she declined to seek the death penalty against Loyd.