Crime Scene

When victims’ relatives take the witness stand at murder trials, defense lawyers are usually on their best behavior. They have to be careful not to seem insensitive or antagonize the jury by aggressively questioning the still grieving witness, who commands sympathy by the circumstance that brings him or her to court.
That was not the case on Monday at the start of Fred Richardson’s trial in Westchester County Court. Richardson is accused of gunning down 30-year-old Kevin Chambliss on Ferris Avenue last year when Richardson and his cousin, Omar Washington, went to retrieve a necklace Chambliss was wearing that had been stolen from Washington.
Defense lawyer Christopher Chan showed no deference to John Chambliss, the victim’s father, when he testified.
Chambliss had earlier told the prosecutor how he heard the gunshots and went downstairs from their apartment to find his mortally wounded son being loaded onto an ambulance. He rode along and heard his son’s dying words once they got to the hospital.
But when Chan got his chance, he pressed Chambliss about his son’s criminal record and reputation as a drug dealer.
“Isn’t it a fact he’s known as ‘The weed man’?” Chan shouted at him.
“All I know him as is my son,” the father responded coolly.