Woman testifies in case involving police chase

Friday, July 8, 2005 | 11:05 a.m.

Jurors will ultimately decide what to make of April Jones' testimony on Thursday, but one thing seemed clear when Jones stepped off the witness stand in chains -- sometimes love can turn criminal.

She had offered her account of the Feb. 18 high-speed chase, in which she shot at police. The 21-year-old Jones said she loved Kentro Taylor so much that she would do anything for him, even give up her own life.

On Tuesday Jones had pleaded guilty to eight counts of attempted murder of a police officer and one count each of conspiracy to commit murder and aiming a gun at an officer. Taylor is on trial on the same charges.

Jones smiled awkwardly throughout her testimony and laughed at times as she said it was her decision to grab an assault rifle and shoot at pursuing police officers to "kill them, get away, whatever."

Taylor admits he was driving the green 1995 Honda Civic, but said he didn't tell Jones to grab the assault rifle in the car and fire at pursuing police officers in North Las Vegas.

As Taylor sat slouched in court, Jones said the assault rifle was given to her as a "gift" and the first time she used it was on the day of the incident.

Proscutors believed Jones' testimony would be crucial towards rejecting Taylor's claim that he was only driving away from the police because Jones had an assault rifle and Taylor feared his life would be threatened if he stopped the car and surrendered to police.

The prosecutors contend Taylor and Jones were acting as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, working together during the chase, endangering not only police officers but other motorists and pedestrians.

Jones said after police initially flashed their lights and turned on the sirens of their patrol car, Taylor pulled over to the shoulder of the road and she waited until the officers got out of their cars and approached before telling Taylor "go."

Taylor was a murder suspect in Louisiana when police from Metro's fugitive detail spotted him in Las Vegas in February. Taylor was visiting a pregnant ex-girlfriend in Las Vegas. He is to be sent to face the Louisiana charges once his Las Vegas case has concluded.

Jones said she made no pact or agreement to do anything if the police pulled them over.

After shooting seven to eight rounds from the front seat passenger window at the pursuing police Jones realized the car was running out of gas. She said Taylor stopped the car at a red light and she got out in an attempt to carjack a woman next to them.

"I got out of the car and grabbed the door handle of the woman next to us, but the police were coming up on me so I got back in," Jones said.

While Jones was trying to find a gassed up vehicle to continue the chase in Taylor was waiting for her and was "on the phone calling his momma."

Taylor's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Kevin Speed had emphasized in opening arguments on Wednesday that Taylor didn't stop and turn himself over to the police because Jones had a gun and "the person with the gun makes the rules."

Jones said she didn't tell Taylor what to do during the chase and shooting other than "to turn here, turn there, but not how fast to drive or anything."

Jones said the police finally caught up with the couple after they hit a truck. Whether or not Jones was acting independently or part of a team with Taylor was brought into focus as Jones explained what happened next.

"I asked him (Taylor) if he wanted me to go all the way, if I should shoot the police so the police would shoot back," Jones said. "He didn't say nothing, he shook his head no."

"Kentro put his hands up. I put my hands up, and the police were coming to the car so I gave him a kiss," Jones said.

Although Jones said she did indeed plead guilty to all the charges against her in response to questioning by Chief Deputy District Attorney Frank Coumou, she failed to take full responsibility to the charge of conspiracy to commit murder saying "that was just part of my deal."

In exchange for Jones' testimony, prosecutors agreed not to oppose concurrent prison sentences for Jones' 11 felonies. At a minimum, Jones could theoretically be sentenced merely to probation, but Judge Lee Gates said Tuesday that was unlikely.

Possible sentences for Jones range from four years in prison to as much as 342 years. If concurrent sentences are imposed, the maximum is 40 years.

Frustrated with the answers Jones was giving during her testimony Jones' mother left the courtroom halfway through her daughter's time on the witness stand. After court had concluded Jones' mother was visibly upset with Jones' testimony as she talked with Jones' attorney, Brian Bloomfield.

The prosecution is expected to conclude its case today. The jury could hear closing arguments and begin deliberating the case in the afternoon as Taylor is not expected to call any witnesses to the stand in his defense.