Judge allows statement in brick-slaying trial

Monday, Nov. 25, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

A statement given to Metro Police by a 19-year-old accused of beating a man to death with cinder blocks will be admitted into evidence at a Jan. 21 trial.

District Court Judge Sally Loehrer on Friday denied Usman Sadiq's motion to suppress his statements to police.

Sadiq's attorney, Deputy Special Public Defender Alzora Jackson, argued that when Sadiq was arrested by police in connection with the Jan. 7 killing of Kristopher Gregory, 21, Sadiq was drowsy and under the influence of prescription drugs.

Loehrer ruled that Sadiq's statements were voluntary.

"He was not in any condition, due to pain, medication or sleeplessness, that would have interfered with him giving a voluntary statement," Loehrer said.

Sadiq was under the influence of Motrin, NyQuil, and Naproxen, a prescription drug used for treating joint pain, when police arrested him and took statements from him on Jan. 9, according to Sadiq's mother, Kisu Sadiq.

Kisu Sadiq told Loehrer that her son was so groggy when homicide detectives arrived at her home, that she had to help him downstairs. Metro homicide detective Kent Hardy testified that Usman Sadiq needed no help down the stairs and seemed alert when he was arrested.

According to police, Gregory was beaten to death with cinder blocks after the Gale Insulation truck he was driving crashed through a wall at the Sundance Village Apartments, near Rainbow and Charleston boulevards.

Jesse Covington, 24, a friend of Gregory, was also severely beaten and was released from the hospital after three weeks.

Police said Gregory and Covington got into a dispute with a group of people in the apartment complex's parking lot. The group walked away as Gregory drove eastbound through the parking lot. Gregory's truck suddenly turned 90 degrees and struck a friend of Sadiq before crashing through a block wall, police said.

Gregory and Covington were then pulled from the truck and beaten, police said.