Man found guilty of obstruction of justice in Powhatan slaying case

A man accused of obstruction of justice in the investigation into the murder of 18-year-old Tahliek Taliaferro was found guilty today and sentenced to 60 days in jail.

Brad Harris had told investigators two days after the shooting that he had not seen two men sought in the slayings when in fact he had.

“I made a mistake,“ Harris said in court. “I shouldn’t have lied to the officers.“

Bennett Davis and David Franklin were also scheduled for trial today on charges of obstruction of justice and being accessories after the fact, but their court dates were rescheduled to May 22.

Davis and Franklin also face drug charges.

In Amelia County, Harris is facing a charge of concealing evidence and six counts of accessory after the fact. Randall and Brenda Powers also face charges in Amelia. They are scheduled to be tried May 26.

Investigators maintain the five individuals helped Ethan and Joseph “Joey” Parrish flee to the Canadian border following the slaying.

A Powhatan County Circuit Court jury last week convicted the cousins of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Taliaferro and assault and battery in the wounding of Courtney Jones, another passenger in the car. Joey Parrish was also found guilty of an additional charge of use of a firearm by a felony.

The cousins had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Taliaferro and aggravated malicious wounding in the shooting of Jones. The jury’s decision to impose the lower verdicts outraged the families of Taliaferro and Jones and prompted complaints that race played a part in the decision of the jury. There was only one black on the jury.

A march to protest the verdict Sunday drew about 300 people.