Percey Jordan was searching for a victim the night he found retired New York Times journalist strolling alone in his Northwest Washington neighborhood, Assistant U.S. Attorney told a jury Monday during final arguments.
Jordan, 42, is charged with murder and robbery in the brutal beating death of David Rosenbaum in Grammercy Park in January. Jordan’s cousin Michael Hamlin pleaded guilty last month to murder and robbery and testified Thursday to the events that led to Rosenbaum’s death.
Rosenbaum, 63, was walking to get rid of his hiccups when he strolled past Jordan, who was hiding behind a tree.
“Give it up, old man, give it up!” Jordan yelled, Hamlin testified. Six times Rosenbaum was struck with a heavy plastic pipe before he fell to the ground. Hamlin grabbed the wallet from Rosenbaum’s pants. The newsman died two days later.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Highness reminded the jury of 12 women Monday of Hamlin’s testimony and showed surveillance photos of Jordan and Hamlin using Rosenbaum’s credit card minutes after the attack. The two men used the card to buy chips and soda at the same time that the retired newsman remained dying on the cold ground.
Haines called the evidence a “wall of proof” of Jordan’s guilty.
“The writing is on the wall for Mr. Jordan,” Haines said.
Jordan, 42, had more of a motive than Hamlin, Haines said. Hamlin, 24, had a job, home and girlfriend. Jordan was homeless, living in a car. Jordan needed the money, she said.
Defense attorney Michael Starr focused on the Hamlin’s motives and the lies Hamlin told detectives. Hamlin, he said, drove the car, took the wallet and got rid of the murder weapon.Hamlin was testifying against Jordan to get a lighter sentence from prosecutors, Starr said. Starr ridiculed Hamlin’s testimony that he was telling the truth Thursday because “the truth shall set you free.”
“Is he relying on the truth to set him free or his he relying on the government to set him free?” Starr said.
