‘Evidentiary challenges.’ Why Macon twins charged with murder got a plea bargain
.jpg "Macon, GA DA Anita Howard says evidence challenges led to guilty plea deals for Divine Taylor and Divinity Taylor in the 2021 shooting death of Brandon Washington.")
Challenges with an inconsistent witness led to twins receiving a plea offer in a 2021 shooting death, according to the Macon district attorney.
Divine Taylor and Divinity Taylor, 24-year-old twins, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on April 6 in a shooting that led to the death of Brandon Washington, 23, on April 29, 2021. The Taylors were charged with malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault. Divinity Taylor was additionally charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard said the case’s resolution “represents the best achievable outcome under challenging circumstances,” according to a statement provided to The Telegraph on Monday.
The case “presented significant evidentiary challenges,” Howard said.
“The shooting occurred outside of a Circle K store where no exterior surveillance footage existed,” Howard said. “The primary witness to the shooting provided inconsistent accounts on multiple occasions, substantially undermining the state’s ability to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
It is unclear what led to the shooting.
Howard’s office didn’t want to risk taking the case to trial, which could have led to no accountability, the district attorney said. The resolution, which led to the twins admitting to their involvement in the shooting, ensured “real consequences,” according to the statement.
Divine Taylor, who shot Washington, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation. Divinity Taylor, who was present when the shooting occurred, will serve five years in prison, followed by 15 years of probation, according to Howard.
“Additionally, both defendants are prohibited from any contact with the family of victim Brandon Washington, any witnesses in this case, and are barred from returning to the Macon Judicial Circuit,” Howard said.
