The two men the police commissioner dubbed the city's most violent citizens were acquitted yesterday of all charges in a triple homicide inside a North Philadelphia speakeasy.
After jurors announced they had found brothers Cassius and Jerome Broaster not guilty of killing three and wounding five inside the illegal bar in February 2002, one of the defendants immediately spoke out in court. Police believe the speakeasy murders were part of an ongoing drug rivalry.”Thank you for giving me back my life,” Cassius Broaster shouted out to the jurors.
At the time of the Broasters' arrest – after a dramatic standoff – Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson called the brothers “the worst people in the city, as far as violence is concerned.”
The acquittal surprised Assistant District Attorney Carlos Vega, who prosecuted the Broasters.
Vega said the nature of the case and the reluctance of witnesses made it difficult to prosecute.
Police had a tough time gathering evidence from witnesses willing to testify against the brothers. Several witnesses who did make it to court were convicted criminals with questionable motives.
And, Vega alleged, the case was plagued by witness intimidation.
One witness who testified was shot in the head a month after the speakeasy shootings. Another witness was beaten, Vega said, and it was strongly suggested to another that she never testify against the Broasters.
“The witnesses did not want to be involved. They were afraid for their safety,” he said.
No arrests have been made for intimidation, Vega said.
Defense attorneys Brian McMonagle and Joseph Santaguida were beaming as they left the courtroom after the acquittals.
McMonagle, who represented Cassius Broaster, said Vega's evidence, especially ballistics tests and eyewitness testimony, just wasn't enough to convict. Then, he said, the defense struck back hard with a strong witness who said the brothers were not the killers.
“We called an eyewitness with no record who was shot” inside the illegal bar, he said.
Santaguida said he believed law-enforcement officials – pressured by publicity about the shootings – rushed to make arrests.
The murders added even more bloodshed to an increasingly violent war between rival crack dealers that operated just blocks away from each other, police said. The Broasters, police and trial witnesses said, commanded the area around 25th and Huntingdon streets. Their rivals were at 26th and York.
Cops said the speakeasy shooting erupted after a verbal argument inside the bar between members of the two gangs.
Killed in a spray of bullets from two semiautomatics were Daniel Tull, Lamont Williamson and Theodore Williams, all of North Philadelphia.
Jerome Broaster will be free to leave prison after clearing up a parole violation, Santaguida said. Cassius Broaster was expected to be released immediately. *