Four indicted in witness murder

BALTIMORE (WMAR) - A 10-month joint investigation into the death of a Baltimore County man has concluded with the indictments of four men.

Four men have been indicted for murder, conspiracy, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice for the death of Ronald Givens who was due to testify in an October 2011 narcotics case.

According to the indictments, Derius Duncan, 22, conspired with Keyon Beads, 30, Clifford Butler Jr., 21 and David Johnson, 23, attempted to bribe and later kill Givens, 55, who had been a potential witness against Duncan in a Baltimore City Court.

On March 22, 2011, Duncan was charged with firearms and narcotics violations after being stopped in a hack taxi operated by Givens. On the morning of October 4, Givens was found shot to death in front of his Baltimore County home where lived with his elderly mother.

Givens was scheduled to testify in Duncan's case on October 26, 2011.

The investigation revealed that Duncan, who was incarcerated, communicated by phone and by mail with Beads and Butler, who in turn relayed Duncan's instructions to Johnson.

Duncan first had his coconspirators offer bribes of Givens in order to falsify his testimony, but when it was clear that Givens was unwilling, Duncan directed them to kill him. Duncan was on probation when he committed the alleged firearms and narcotics violations and eligible for an additional 17 years in prison if a judge concluded that he had violated his probation.

Givens was killed in the Woodlawn area near where he and the four defendants grew up together.

"These indictments are proof that no matter which jurisdiction you commit your crime in, law enforcement will work cooperatively to bring all responsible persons to justice," said Scott Shellenberger, State's Attorney for Baltimore County.