Jury deliberated for eight hours before reaching its decision
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
A jury found Damon Wylie not guilty of all charges in connection with the July 27 fatal stabbing of Marcus L. Miles.
After deliberating for about four hours, a jury deciding the fate of an accused Coatesville murderer told Chester County Court Judge Anthony A. Sarcione that it was deadlocked. He instructed them to keep trying.
Four hours later, the panel of four women and eight men acquitted Damon E. Wylie, 47, of all charges – ranging from first-degree murder to possessing an instrument of crime – in connection with the stabbing death of Marcus L. Miles, 41, on July 27.
As the jurors filed out of the hushed courtroom, a half-dozen friends and relatives of the victim shook their heads in disbelief and began to weep. Wylie embraced Assistant Public Defenders Sheryl J.M. Willson and Lauren Holt before being returned to custody. Willson told the judge that Wylie was being held on a state parole violation and would likely be released next week.
“On behalf of Mr. Wylie, Ms. Holt and I are very pleased with the jury’s decision,” said Willson.
Assistant District Attorneys Bonnie L. Cox-Shaw and Max O’Keefe had no comment as they exited the courtroom. During the weeklong trial, they had argued that the evidence did not support the defense contention that Wylie acted in self-defense when he fatally stabbed Miles with a pair of scissors inside an unoccupied residence in the 700 block of Diamond Alley.
In her closing argument, Cox-Shaw acknowledged the testimony of witnesses who said Miles had been trying to provoke a fight with Wylie that day. “He didn’t start it,” she said of the defendant. “But he certainly finished it …It didn’t have to end that way.”
Willson countered that Wylie had been doing his best to make peace with Miles, who first approached Wylie angrily at the Midway bar. Willson said Wylie managed to walk away but could not escape a second confrontation hours later. She said Miles shoved Wylie into a wall outside the Diamond Alley residence, and when Wylie went inside to get away, Miles followed him and grabbed a pair of scissors.
Wylie permanently injured his hand when he grabbed the scissors away, Willson said, adding that Wylie was still pleading with Miles, a longtime friend, to stop the attack. She said Wylie had no desire to hurt Miles “until he has no choice.”
Cox-Shaw disputed the notion that Wylie had no options, pointing out the 240-pound defendant inflicted 14 stab wounds on the 165-pound victim. The prosecutor argued that Wylie could have taken Miles out “with one good punch.” Instead, “he pulls out a pair of scissors, stabbing the victim multiple times.” The fact that Wylie didn’t call for help, fled the scene, and sought medical assistance the next day in Delaware County reinforced his guilt, Cox-Shaw said.
Willson said Wylie didn’t call for help because he had no idea Miles had been fatally wounded until he awakened from hand surgery at the hospital to find detectives in his room. According to testimony during the weeklong trial, after Miles had been stabbed, Wylie exited the rear of the building and Miles walked out the front door before collapsing on the porch.
According to court records and published reports, Wylie, known as “Cool J,” has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1985 that includes cursing at a magisterial district judge who held him for trial on imprisonment and sexual assault charges in 1995 and telling the alleged victim that he would kill her and her family if she called the police.
Court records show convictions for aggravated assault and drug offenses. His murder charges constituted a parole violation for a 2009 drug offense, which is why he was returned to custody, according to court records.
