An attorney for Thomas Sledge filed a motion in federal court to separate his trial from his co-defendant, Kaprise Sledge. Both men face charges in the March 2024 shooting death of Jonte Davis, a U.S. Postal Service carrier who was killed while on duty in Warren.
The legal request, known as a motion to sever, argues that holding a joint trial would be unfair to Thomas Sledge. His lawyers claim that a combined trial could lead to prejudice, making it difficult for a jury to properly weigh the evidence against him specifically.
Defense attorneys expressed concern that evidence meant only for Kaprise Sledge might wrongly influence the jury’s view of Thomas Sledge. They also noted that the two defendants may have conflicting defenses, which could cause further issues during a single trial.
