Anthony Robertson, accused in a 2011 murder, came face-to-face Tuesday with the first pool of potential jurors in his trial, some of whom will soon cast a vote on his fate.
The 22-year-old Dorchester native is accused of fatally shooting 25-year-old Aaron Wornum in June of 2011, according to the Suffolk County district attorney’s office. He is charged with first-degree murder.
Six jurors were selected at the end of the first day.
As Judge Patrick Brady questioned potential jurors in Courtroom 817 at Suffolk Superior Court, Robertson, dressed in khaki pants and a white button-down shirt, turned to look at friends several times, signaling and even laughing with them.
Robertson and his attorney, James Greenberg, whispered to each other as they made decisions on jurors.
Several potential jurors were dismissed, including some with relatives in law enforcement, others with scheduling conflicts due to children or work, a police officer and a number of individuals who did not speak English well.
Prosecutors believe Robertson and Wornum knew each other, Conley’s office said in a statement.
In 2008, Wornum spoke of trying to break the cycle of violence. In a powerful YouTube video for Teen Empowerment, a national center aimed at combating violence in troubled neighborhoods. Wornum advised youths on choices.
“You know that if you wake up today and take another man’s life, the two most likely repercussions will be incarceration or revenge from a family member,” he said to a cheering crowd. “You know that if you were to wake up today and attend school … the two most likely repercussions are a well-paying occupation and success.”
Failure or success, Wornum said, were the results of making the right or wrong choices, especially in a troubled neighborhood like Dorchester.
“Unfortunately it took the death of some of my closest allies in order for me to come to this realization … I still care about the people I came up with, I don’t want to give up on them. But now instead of connecting with them on narcotics sales or violent retaliations, I’m trying to be a bridge to connect them to opportunities to change their directions of their life.”
Wornum died June 2011 at Boston Medical Center.
That summer night, Robertson allegedly exited his car and shot Wornum multiple times before stealing a gold chain from him, Conley’s office said.
See press release from Conley’s office below:
Two Arraigned After Indictments in June HomicidesTwo men charged in separate homicides this June remain held without bail following their indictments last week and their Superior Court arraignments today, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.
ANTHONY ROBERTSON (D.O.B. 5/19/91) of Dorchester was formally charged this morning with first-degree murder for the June 26 shooting death of 25-year-old Aaron Wornum. Just a few hours later, LAQUAN MILLER (D.O.B. 5/25/94) of Roslindale was charged with the same offense for the June 5 shooting death of Wilfredo Martinez, 23, and the non-fatal shooting of a second 23-year-old man during the same incident.
Acting on requests by Assistant District Attorney Davide Fredette of Conley’s Homicide Unit, Clerk Magistrate Connie Wong kept in place orders that both men be held without bail as they have been since their previous arraignments in district court.
Speaking at Robertson’s arraignment this morning, Fredette told the court that Wornum and Robertson were known to one another. Wornum had been on his cell phone with a person he was supposed to meet at about 9:00 on the evening he was killed, Fredette said, and phone records show that person to be Robertson.
At about that time, Robertson allegedly drove up to the scene, exited his car, and pulled a gun. He allegedly shot Wornum multiple times, killing him, and stole a gold chain from him.
Just before his death, Wornum is said to have pleaded for his life, saying, “Ant, it doesn’t have to be this way,” or “Ant, you don’t have to do me like this,” Fredette said.
Multiple witnesses have identified Robertson as the shooter, Fredette said.
A few hours later, Fredette recited the facts of the case against Miller, telling the court that Martinez and another man were behind a Brookway Road building shortly after 10:00 p.m. when two other individuals came out from inside that building and opened fire on them. Martinez suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died of his injuries; the second victim survived his injuries but required extensive rehabilitative therapy as a result of them.
Miller was later identified by several individuals as being one of the gunmen, Fredette said. When he spoke to police, Miller allegedly gave multiple alibis that conflicted with one another and the known facts, Fredette said.
The investigation into the identity of the second shooter remains very active even today, Fredette told the court.
Jessica Sheehan is the DA’s victim witness advocate assigned to both cases. Robertson is represented by attorney James Greenberg and will return to court on Oct. 25. Miller is represented by attorney Bruce Carroll and will return to court on Oct. 13.
