September 21 Homeless attacks compared May 2 Teen gets 25 years in fatal beating March 24 No plan to pursue leniency for witness in beating death March 23 Teen guilty in homeless man's death Homeless feel betrayed by verdict March 19 Jury to begin deliberations in killing of homeless man March 17 Witness 'not sure' man was at scene of slaying March 16 Teen describes beating death of homeless man in testimony March 14 Guilty plea in homeless death December 10 Suspect: Homeless man beaten to death after fight over money November 28 Marty Bertrand: Paying for pot instead of rent Jeffrey John Hubert: Time slips away on streets Beat on street among Denver's homeless is one of fear, defiance Richard Steinmetz: Wary life among the 'clowns' John Bryant & Katherine Livingston: Manhole cover for a bed Keith Williams: Scars of street life November 26 Free turkey helps police with inquiry November 25 Cops chasing down tips to 'homeless' hot line November 23 Victim respected among homeless Murder suspect, 16, put in adult jail LoDo not paralyzed by murders November 22 Special Mass held for slain transients Homeless shelters fill fast November 21 Homeless seek protection LoDo rebirth disrupts street life rhythms November 20 Homicide hot line gets 100 calls November 19 FBI profilers join hunt in LoDo slayings FBI profilers may help solve murders Death takes many forms for homeless 'We have nothing to be afraid of' November 18 2 more bodies found in LoDo New killings spread fear in homeless November 15 Rookie cops help break case November 12 Three 'mall rats' charged in slaying November 10 3rd beating death suspect arrested November 7 Violence part of everyday routine for those police call 'Mall rats' November 5 Suspects named in beating deaths October 31 Slayings victims not simply 'transients' to their loved ones Men felt lure of streets October 30 $100,000 reward offered in beating deaths October 29 Slayings of transients prompt police scrutiny October 28 Homeless feel increasing fear after 5 killings Police ponder connections in four downtown slayings October 27 Police confirm man was beaten to death October 24 Police investigating death of man in LoDo as homicide October 9 Teen charged in beating of transient October 7 Man investigated in transients' deaths September 30 Beating victim found in river ID'd as 51-year-old transient September 18 Man beaten in LoDo dies September 9 Transients' bodies identified

By John C. Ensslin
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

The key witness in a homeless murder trial sounded a lot less convincing in a jail interview with his co-defendant's attorney, a private investigator testified Thursday.

Thomas Holden was not even sure Christopher Ball, 16, was present when transient Melvin Washington was beaten on Sept. 8, Patricia Mazal said. Washington died Sept. 15.

Mazal took notes while Ball's lawyer, Andre Adeli, interviewed him at the Denver County Jail on Nov. 7.

She said Holden, 19, seemed nervous and subdued. His demeanor changed, she said, when Adeli asked why Holden took Ball back to the crime scene the next day to show him Washington's blood.

"He (Holden) just froze and he was almost speechless," Mazal recalled. "He didn't answer. He was just staring for 5 to 10 seconds."

She said Adeli then asked, "Are you sure Christopher was even there?"

She said Holden replied: "You know, I'm not. ... The more you ask me, the more I'm starting to remember."

On Wednesday, Holden described how he served as lookout while Ball and another co-defendant attacked Washington, 47, as he slept on a steam grate near Skyline Park.

He said Ball kicked Washington "like he was a soccer ball."

Holden pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case Monday and agreed to testify against Ball and Harrison.

The trial resumes today in Denver District Court.

March 17, 2000