By SANDRA BRAND
NEA Town Courier Editor
The first degree murder trial of the State verses Malik Dority began in Mississippi County Circuit Court Monday with Judge Scott Ellington presiding.
Maleke (aka Malik) Dority, 27, of Blytheville is charged with the Jan. 17, 2023 shooting death of Dandre Whitfield, 25, also of Blytheville.
A pretrial motion hearing was held Monday afternoon. The defense was represented by attorneys Zach Morrison of Lake City and Martin E. Lilly of Jonesboro.
Jury selection was held Tuesday with Deputy Prosecutor Curtis Walker conducting the voir diring for the state.
Dority surrendered himself to Mississippi County Dale Cook on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023.
Dority appeared before Judge Shannon Langston within a couple of hours of his surrender.
The State, through Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chris Brown, sought a $500,000 bond, alleging that Dority was a flight risk and that he had several prior convictions. Brown also read a probable cause affidavit from the Blytheville Police Department stating the victim had been with Dority and another individual immediately before leaving and being shot in the back.
Defense attorney Morrison countered that although the alleged victim gave a recorded statement before he succumbed to his injuries, the victim, nor any other person, ever identified Dority as the trigger man.
Langston set a $250,000 cash/surety bond, with the requirement that 10% be posted in cash. She also ordered Dority to be under house arrest and be fitted with an ankle monitor if he posts bond.
On Feb. 21, 2023, Judge Ellington issued a no contact order for Dority in condition to his bond. He is prohibited to have any contact, in any manner, with immediate family members of the victim.
The jury trial is continuing today.