Streeter convicted of murder in Brown’s Lounge shooting
Published 8:33 pm Wednesday, December 10, 2008
After two days of testimony, a Pike County Circuit Court jury found Michael Streeter guilty of murdering Joey Spikner.
Court convened around 9 a.m. Wednesday, and attorneys from the prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments. The jury returned a guilty verdict around 12:30 p.m.
“The prosecution and the family members are very happy justice was served,” said Pike County District Attorney Gary McAliley. “Joey Spikner was in no way a threat of harming him (Streeter), and he was an innocent bystander.”
Spikner was killed on May 27, 2007, outside of Brown’s Lounge when Streeter fired multiple shots into a crowd with a Keltic rifle.
Witnesses placed Spikner in the midst of the crowd gathered outside the lounge at the time of the incident, which occurred in the early morning hours of May 27.
Streeter, who was with two other individuals, was the passenger of a blue Crown Victoria, when he stood up out of the car, aimed his gun over the top and shot into the crowd seven times.
McAliley said the strongest evidence for his case was the bullet identified in the autopsy report, which matched those fired from Streeter’s gun.
“The projectile taken out of the deceased’s pelvis matched the only weapon found on the scene,” McAliley said.
McAliley said from this trial, two other witnesses likely will be charged with a crime.
Mack Kelley, who was the driver of the blue Crown Victoria, and who was seen firing a gun, may face murder charges, McAliley said. And, another witness may be charged with hindering prosecution, he said.
In her closing arguments, Susan James, Streeter’s attorney, said there were holes in the state’s evidence, since their witnesses had allegedly been caught lying on some occasions.
“John Averett, Clarence Potts and BB Cole — I would suggest to go back and question yourself. If you had an important decision to make, would you base it on the credit of those three?” James said. “The prosecution calls you to send a message to the community, and I think it would be very wrong to send the wrong message, and that is to convict an innocent man.”
James was not present at the time of the verdict, and she could not be reached for comment following the trial.
Judge Robert Barr scheduled Streeter’s sentencing for Jan. 6 at 9 a.m., and he will remain in the custody of the Sheriff’s department until that time.