Prosecutors can’t use evidence from interview in Cedar Rapids shooting suspect’s trial

CEDAR RAPIDS - A judge has ruled that prosecutors cannot use evidence from a September police interview with murder defendant Quarzone Martin during his trial this week in Linn County District Court.

Sixth Judicial District Chief Judge Patrick Grady ruled last Thursday that Cedar Rapids police investigators should have stopped questioning Martin during a Sept. 26 interview at the Cook County Jail in Chicago after he invoked his right to have a lawyer present. In the ruling, Grady said there was no doubt Martin asked for a lawyer almost immediately after he waived his Miranda rights, saying he wanted a lawyer because he didn't know his rights.

Grady said no evidence from that police interview can be used by the prosecution in its case against Martin.

Jury selection continues Tuesday for Martin, 25, of Cedar Rapids, who is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, going armed with intent and willful injury causing serious injury. He is accused of fatally shooting Andrew Meeks, 26, and injuring Johnny Moore Jr., 30, both of Cedar Rapids, on July 2.

The trial is expected to last all week. Opening statements and testimony may start late Tuesday.

Martin is claiming self-defense. According to court documents, the defense will claim Meeks and Moore tried to steal drugs from Martin, and Martin was forced to defend himself.

Police said Meeks and Moore were in a car that, after shots were fired, crashed into a guard rail at the Walmart on the westside in Cedar Rapids.

Court documents show Martin got into a vehicle driven by Meeks, with Moore as a passenger, in the store's parking lot. Meeks drove around the parking lot and, at one point, Martin briefly got out. He then jumped back in the car, which rolled into a guardrail, and Martin jumped out, dropping his cellphone in the process.

When police arrived, Martin was gone and Meeks was dying from a gunshot wound to his neck, court documents show. Moore had been shot in the chest from a bullet that apparently had gone through the car's front seat.

Last week during a hearing, a police investigator testified Martin wanted to talk to him and another officer during the interview and waived his rights.

Martin's lawyer argued the investigators should have stopped questioning Martin after he invoked his right to not talk to law enforcement without a lawyer.

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