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Courtroom testimony: Friend Ian Zinderman

2:13 p.m. – Tucker and Mitchell enter courtroom:

Both are stone faced, no emotion

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Mike McCarthy – identified as Young's attorney

Mitch Ribitwer – identified as Tucker's attorney

First person to testify:

Ian Zinderman , 20 years old (Not sure on spelling)

He is currently homeless, staying with friends

Asked to identify Tucker in the courtroom

Asked to identify Young in the courtroom

Testified he knew Tucker since elementary school

Testified he had only met Young 2 weeks ago and knew him by "Roderick."

Testified he had a discussion with Tucker and Young about "doing a job for money" "possibly killing a family."

They didn't say which family they were talking about

Tucker offered Zinderman some money to help out to be a "Getaway driver or possibly helping cover up."

"I was supposed to get a share of the money."

1/3 of the share

"I would take home $1,000."

Prosecution asked about specific date -April 15 – said he was at a friends house "Willams residence."

They were sitting in a blue Ford truck talking about how to get money to get "spice" the drug

Decided to go to the house and get money or anything we found to buy it

Plan was to break in, Tucker was going to find dad's wallet to get cash to get gas money and money for drugs. Then drive to Keego Harbor.

Showed pictures of Cipriano home, asked to identify it.

Testified he "boosted" Tucker so he could open a screen

After Tucker gets into the house

"I sit out and wait."

Tucker comes out with some type of bank card

They went to gas station

Card didn't work, so they planned to go back to Tucker's house

They go back, Tucker goes through window again

He comes back out with a gift card

Witness says plan was to kill

"I don't' remember who said it, but one of Tucker or Roderick said, they were talking about which family should member should be taken care, who would take care of which family members."

Tucker would go after brothers

Roderick would go after mom and dad

Rod was supposed to go after sister

Defense attorney Mike McCarthy questions Zinderman

McCarthy asks witness where he sat while he was riding in the blue truck with Young and Tucker. Witness says he sat in middle and Young drove the whole night during the two times they went to Cipriano house and broke in.

Witness has grant of immunity in case – May 17. Witness is not being charged with anything, but McCarthy asks him if he knew that he could have been facing a first-degree home invasion charge.

"So you can speak freely today and not have to worry about having anything you say used against you," McCarthy says.

McCarthy said the immunity is only for in the courtroom – not for outside. And that if anything anyone else said against Zinderman could be used against him.

Prosecution disagrees, says the immunity covers everything.

McCarthy asks how the witness got two pairs of latex gloves in his pocket. Witness says he doesn't know how they got there.

"Tucker loves his sister."

Witness says Tucker mentioned that

Witness gets teary eyed

Witness testifies that the plan was to weighing them (the bodies) down with barrels and put them in river

Tucker was going to run away to Mexico

Once he heard all of this, witness says he thought:  "If they want to (expletive) up their life, they can do it on their own accord."

"Don't' bring me into it."

Witness asks to be dropped off

The three drive to Keego Harbor

Tucker was going to run away to Mexico

Once he heard all of this, witness says he thought:  "If they want to fuck up their life, they can do it on their own accord."

"Don't' bring me into it."

Witness asks to be dropped off

The three drive to Keego Harbor

Witness says he saw blood on Tucker's clothes

Witness goes to sleep at friends house

Witness says he woke up and saw Tucker in the bathroom with blood on his shirt.

Clothes had rips on them, saw wounds that looked like dog bites on him

Witness says Tucker was talking about burning shirt

After that, group of friends smoke bag of spice, then go back to sleep

Witness wakes up and says Tucker asks him to "get rid of the truck" because it was "drawing attention to the house."

Witness says Tucker told him to throw out knife that was under the seat

Witness says he was told to drive truck to Ferndale and leave it

Witness says he was arrested when he got into truck, he was arrested along with a friend named Samantha.

Undercover police pull up and arrested them.

Police cuffed them and asked where Tucker was.

"I told them he was at Sam's house."

Gave police the address

Defense attorney Mike McCarthy questions Zinderman

McCarthy asks witness where he sat while he was riding in the blue truck with Young and Tucker. Witness says he sat in middle and Young drove the whole night during the two times they went to Cipriano house and broke in.

Witness has grant of immunity in case – May 17. Witness is not being charged with anything, but McCarthy asks him if he knew that he could have been facing a first-degree home invasion charge.

"So you can speak freely today and not have to worry about having anything you say used against you," McCarthy says.

McCarthy said the immunity is only for in the courtroom – not for outside. And that if anything anyone else said against Zinderman could be used against him.

Prosecution disagrees, says the immunity covers everything.

McCarthy asks how the witness got two pairs of latex gloves in his pocket. Witness says he doesn't know how they got there.

-McCarthy asks Zinderman why he went with Tucker and Young to break in when he testified that he didn't smoke the "spice" drug

Witness says, "I don't like it."

McCarthy asks witness if thought something was wrong

McCarthy asks witness what he thought when he saw the blood, was asked to ditch the truck or asked to throw a knife away.

McCarthy said witness' testimony benefits him solely because he gets to avoid home invasion and accessory accusations.

Witness says he went with Tucker and Young because he didn't want to be in the friends house alone.

"Do you have other trouble with the truth?"

"No, sir."

Defense attorney Mitch Ribitwer questions Zinderman

Asks how many times he met with prosecutor, asked if he had time to "rehearse" the things he was going to say.

Asked witness if he had seen any police reports, or seen any videos that would prepare him for his testimony

Ribitwer asked if he had learning disabilities.

Witness says he has ADHD and math disorder

Asked why witness responded 15 times or more "I do not recall."

Asked if he was scared on the stand
"Yes, I am."

Admits he is somewhat mixed up

Ribitwer asks witness if the first break-in was a "trial run" for the real attack

Witness says he was "intimidated" by officer and may have been mixed up information

"I don't recall lying."

Ribitwer accuses Zinderman of being involved (conspiracy to commit murder) by agreeing to be getaway driver.

"I never agreed to be the getaway driver," says Zinderman.

Ribitwer asks him if he is testifying because he knows that he will get off the hook for complying.

"I'm testifying because it's the right thing to do," Zinderman says.

Ribitwer asks witness if he saw Tucker consuming "spice" throughout the night they were together. Witness says yes.

Ribitwer said police report says Zinderman originally told police he had bought the truck in Ferndale. "That was a lie," Ribitwer said.

"Yes," said Zinderman.

Ribitwer asks Zinderman why he didn't call right away and why he went did TV interviews.

"Running your mouth" Ribitwer said.

Zinderman said he did it because he knew Tucker was locked up.

Prosecution follows up questioning of Zinderman

Prosecutor asks Zinderman if he thought Tucker and Young were serious.

"No," said Zinderman.

Zinderman said he is scared because he is facing Tucker in court.

"I've always been afraid of Tucker. He's unpredictable. I'm just afraid of him," Zinderman said.

 


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