Judge rules prior crimes can be used against teens accused of killing wedding guest

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Two teens accused in the murder of a wedding guest outside a Brookhaven country club appeared in Fulton County court Wednesday morning.

The judge ruled that prior similar crimes can be used against them during pretrial motions from both sides.

The accused gunman, Jayden Myrick, was 17 at the time of the murder of Christian Broder outside Capitol City Club in Brookhaven last July.

Broder’s mother, father and siblings looked on during the hearing Wednesday morning and listened as attorneys talked about Myrick's release without serving prison time for a similar armed robbery when he was just 14 years old. He was out on probation last summer at the time of Broder's killing.

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Torrus Fleetwood faces the same murder indictment and is the accused driver during the armed robbery of a group leaving a wedding. Fleetwood was not granted bond.

The judge ruled in both cases that the prior cases can be used to show street gang activity and motive in the murder.

“I believe the defense in this case will be identity, it was not Jayden Myrick who did it, was someone else, so I’m asking to admit the armed robbery case that he pled guilty to show intent, to show motive, to show opportunity,” Assistant District Attorney Ryan Piechocinski said. “There would be evidence testified that Mr. Fleetwood was actually the one who pointed out the victims before Mr. Myrick got out of the car.”

Fleetwood’s defense attorney also argued a motion to have separate trials.

Still, there are four defendants on the murder indictment. The two other people are teens who are even younger and accused of being there too.

The judge ruled against separating these cases.

Another hearing has been set for April 24.

Cox Media Group