Delaware Murder-for-hire trial starts in Wilmington involving money and revenge

An eighteen-year-old, Shiheem Durham, received a bullet in his skull in Dover, Delaware in 2020. While sitting in a Ford Explorer, he got shot because of a retaliatory action against Jamil Green. Those who found their way to the news article, including Deonte Robinson, 22, Khalil Dixon, 26, Tyrie Burton, 24, and Jason Calhum, 20, who is said to be the gunman behind Durham’s death.

This whole twisted tale has to do with the notion that Durham killed Green and that Robinson, Dixon, Burton, and Calhum show culpability for killing him. With the initiation of the trial, there is much room to see how a jury will weigh the facts.

In 2022, a jury handed down a conviction to Calhum and Dixon for murder. It seems that with them out of the picture as far as this trial goes, the thought of a retrial may surface. Calhum feels that the jury showed the possibility of being tainted.

Burton’s testimony shows that he may be an informant on the stand. If he in fact tells, he may be able to solidify the case for the prosecution. He will be doing them a favor by bringing down Robinson. As a bonafide snitch, Burton may do the right thing and allow Durham’s family to not have closure but a better understanding. He accepted to plead guilty to lesser charges and agreed to give testimony. This is a turnaround. Most times when it’s a street thing regarding $5,000 or more, (and sometimes less) mouths seem to clamp shut. This, however, seems to be a departure from the street code of the nonsensical and damaging idea of “stop snitching.”

Burton keeps up his own thoughts and brings together even more of a smart character in this situation, the prosecution may have smiles on their faces if not grim faces of justice served.

Text messages that Burton sent and a GPS tracker on his ankle corresponded to Durham's demise. So, it’s not just his words but actual evidence that may do in Robinson.

Deputy Attorney General Anthony Hill seeks to land Robinson and company behind bars. The monstrous nature of vengeance in the name of the dollar is beyond what should be within the bounds of rational thought. He is looking to tell the jury that the text messages between Robinson and Burton should be the defining evidence even more than the GPS tracker. If he is able to present to the American citizens on jury duty combined with Burton’s testimony, he will make sure the twentysomething will be put away for a long time. The 96 count indictment concerning the alleged perpetrators behind Durham’s death also included gang-related activities. The defense is hanging on a string. All that the defense attorney, Brian Chapman, said to the people of the jury is, “evaluate all charges separately.”

This appears to be a whimper compared to the prosecution’s roar. With the firepower of a testimony and two men already locked behind the wall, it also appears that Chapman’s client(s) may have trouble getting to the minds of the jurors.

Though this is the very beginning of the trial period, it is apparent that these young men will be tense and show no emotion, however. There will be little to no crying or anger-fueled outbursts regarding these legal proceedings.

What makes the most sense is for Burton to let his mind work and express what he wants to say against whomever may be guilty. The ugliness of this case is what makes it all the worse. Just $5K exed out a young man who had just been at the beginning of his adult life. Sadly, he will not be able to experience even drinking a legal beer. And the destroyer and those associated with his fall should taste the strong sickle of the justice system.

The element of snitching involved here should embolden anyone to tell the truth. In fear of perjuring himself, Burton will be able to show that it is proper to inform. Snitches get riches. He will find a treasure trove of both spiritual and physical gifts if he sings on the stand.

Robinson appears totally broken for his role in this whole affair. All the evidence leveled against him may crash down on his head. He’s got nowhere to go. Throughout the annals of judiciary history, there has always been the one to have pulled the strings. It has been stated that he apparently instructed Calhum to kill Durham. For him to be the middleman of sorts, Robinson will likely be knocked down and locked up.

In the time that all of this has occurred, still there are young men of color in Delaware and elsewhere that are being killed and going to jail. The prosecutor may be in line with justice, never minding what the color of the skin of these men may have. The defense seems to be on the same page as well. They receive their funds based on bringing people to justice or protecting them from a wrongful sentence.

Whatever may arise from this trial, there will be twists and turns regarding the GPS tracker and the text messages and the sense that Robinson sat in the car while Calhum squeezed the trigger against Durham’s head.

The gravity of this case spells a greater narrative for the country at large. In the tiny state of Delaware, there still remain people who seek to hurt, harm, and cause hazard. In the past, gun violence especially has mainly plagued Wilmington but has stretched to other portions of the state. The youthfulness of the men only adds to the depravity and disgusting nature of what this trial will peel back with zeal.

With the faces of the jurors, they may look straight, but they will probably conceal their true emotions for everything which may transpire here.

It’s now Burton vs Robinson. As long as Burton points fingers and speaks reality, he should not have to worry about being named as a tattletale. Instead he should be celebrated.