Three of the four suspects charged in connection with the case that resulted in the death of Officer Daniel Ellis appeared in court Friday for a hearing.
Raleigh Sizemore, Gregory Ratliff and Carl Banks were in a Madison County courtroom to check on the progress of their cases as the July trial date approaches.
Sizemore is charged with the murder of Officer Ellis. Ellis was shot as he investigated a robbery that had happened earlier in the day. An arrest citation said the two officers knocked on the door of Gregory Ratliff’s home when they were looking for Sizemore in relation to the robbery. Court documents said Ratliff let the officers in, told them he was home alone and that there were no guns in the home. According to the arrest citation, Ratliff later admitted both of those statements were lies.
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Ratliff was charged with Complicity to Commit Murder.
Carl Banks was charged in connection to the initial robbery. An arrest citation says he was the getaway driver. Banks had another hearing scheduled for a later date.
The judge has told the state and defense attorneys that he’s concerned the parties will not be ready by the July trial date. A meeting to discuss jury selection for Ratliff’s case will be held on February 23. A motion to sever Ratliff’s case from Sizemore’s case, so that they will be tried separately, is expected.
Raleigh Sizemore’s attorneys argued that the death penalty is unconstitutional. A follow-up hearing to that argument will be heard on March 17.
The fourth suspect charged in connection to the case, Rita Creech, will have another hearing in April.