Pastor Marvin Winans testifying in court and facing the men who attacked him
Detroit, Michigan — For the first time sense he was carjacked Pastor Marvin Winans came face to face with the men accused of attacking him at a gas station in Detroit. On Monday, Pastor Winans relived that horrible scene in court as he gave a vivid testimony of what happened on that day.
A judge will decide later this week if the case against three men charged with robbing and carjacking the Rev. Marvin Winans will go to trial.
The 54-year-old popular Detroit pastor and Grammy-winning gospel singer was attacked May 16 while pumping gas in the area of Linwood and Davison.
The robbers took his 2012 Infiniti QX56 SUV, Rolex watch, cash and credit cards.
Winans suffered only bruises and scrapes.
He is pastor of the 4,500-member Perfecting Church and delivered singer Whitney Houston’s eulogy in February.
Detroit residents Montoya Givens and Christopher Moorehead, both 20, and Brian K. Young, 18, of Macomb County’s Clinton Township are charged with carjacking, unarmed robbery and conspiracy.
The charges carry up to life in prison.
Winans takes the stand
Winans said he knew something was wrong when he noticed he had been followed by the group of men, but that they were talking about music and he even spoke with Givens.
“He asked me what I was listening to and I said, ‘Al Sharpton,'” Winans said.
Winans also testified that Givens was the one to initiate the attack.
“He struck me right underneath my left eye,” Winans said. “They were hitting me with their hands at first. Then they threw me to the ground and they began to kick me.”
One of the suspects began to say, “Get that money. Get that money,” Winans said.
“When I gathered my thoughts and realized, ‘Wow, this is happening,’ I threw a punch. I said Jesus, Jesus and all three ran around the corner,” he said.
Records: Winans was driving on suspended license
According to records from the Michigan Secretary of State, Winans’ license was suspended on May 9 for two unpaid tickets out of Hazel Park – one for impeding traffic and the other for driving on a previous suspended license.
His driving record shows a slew of tickets since September of 2005.
Winans statement: “The traffic issues listed in driver’s record that was recently released was in the process of being handled prior to the Wednesday, May 16 incident. The proof of payment and formal letter addressing the issue was submitted. I was not aware of any suspension of license due to change of address. All day-to-day correspondences are facilitated by my administrative staff. If something was a matter of great urgency they would have brought it to my attention.”
Courtesy of www.thebellereport.net www.twitter.com/thebellereport
