PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — On the evening of Jan. 9, residents in the 3700 block of Greenway Court were frightened when they heard a loud argument that was followed by gunfire. Charles Schesventer lives near the crime scene.
“My wife got up and went towards our patio to go in the direction where we heard the argument,” Schesventer said. “By the time I stood up and followed her out, I was about halfway between the distance, rapid shots rang out about five to six of them I believe. She fell to the floor; I fell on top of her. I then tried to crawl to get my cellphone really quick, crawled back over here, and I began to call 911.”
Eighteen-year-old Ameerah Mari Green and 42-year-old Earl Martin were killed, and two others were injured.
A prosecutor in court Friday said 35-year-old Harold Deandre Martin was armed when he interjected himself in another’s dispute. But the defense said Martin was shot in the face and he acted in self-defense.
No motive was revealed in a bond hearing and no information was revealed on why the 18-year-old’s mother, Holly Jean Berry, was listed as a person of interest in the case. Two weeks after the murder, Andrea Daughtry, who said she previously had joint custody of Green, spoke to 10 On Your Side regarding her interactions with police investigators.
“They won’t tell me what happened because they claim they can’t tell me what happened,” Daughtry said. “That’s fine. I know what happened. I want to know why it happened and I want to know who killed her.”
The defense described the suspect as a family man of 12 years with four children and one on the way. Attorney Eric Leckie told the court Martin, a pipe fitter with 13 years of experience and no prior criminal history, is not a threat to the community.
Judge Jon Babineau reviewed 18 reference letters and said he believed that Martin was not a flight risk, but because of the severity of the crimes, he ordered that Martin will remain behind bars with no bond. Martin’s next court date is May 1. Leckie said he will appeal the judge’s ruling.
