Markeith Loyd: What evidence will be admissible in accused cop killer's murder trials?

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Accused cop killer Markeith Loyd attended a hearing Wednesday after his attorneys filed a motion claiming Loyd cannot be charged with murder for the death of his ex-girlfriend's unborn child.

Deputies said he shot and killed Sade Dixon in December 2016, killing their unborn baby in the process.

Loyd's defense attorneys said state lawmakers have no right to say killing an unborn baby equals a murder charge and are asking a judge to drop that charge from the case.

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"There's a legion of cases to support the state's position that they are entitled to charge Markeith Loyd with the death of that unborn child," said Channel 9 legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.

Sheaffer believes the defense is trying to stake a claim in the future by defining when life begins.

Another issue that was discussed Wednesday is whether a jury in fallen Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton’s case will hear about Dixon’s trial, which is set for September.

Loyd is charged with fatally shooting Clayton outside a Walmart in 2017.

Prosecutors said they want to tell the jury they believe Loyd killed Clayton to avoid being arrested for Dixon’s death. Prosecutors believe the crime sprees are linked.

Ridgway: “This was the murder of a police officer for absolutely no other reason than avoiding arrest.” #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) June 5, 2019

A witness who was at the Walmart, Takeshia Bryant, the day Clayton was shot testified that she recognized Loyd.

Bryant says she recognized someone in the checkout line.

Bryant: “I think he told me it was okay that I recognized him."

Ridgway: "And who did you recognize him to be?"

Bryant: "Markeith Loyd.”#WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) June 5, 2019

“After I got outside, I stopped Debra Clayton as she was putting her items in the car. And I told her Markeith Loyd was inside. I just told her that I knew from the news that he was wanted for murdering his pregnant girlfriend,” Bryant said.

Brian Striby, another witness, described the alleged shooting.

"He tried to get behind the pillar, and she went and blocked his escape," he said.

The defense argued the events are separate and they want to keep the evidence from Clayton’s case out of the trial for Dixon’s case.

Loyd's lawyer: “They have plenty of evidence they can introduce related to the Dixon case, and the Dixon case only, to prove their case. They want to show there is a tendency for Mr. Loyd to be this bad man.” #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) June 5, 2019

Surveillance video from the Walmart of Clayton’s killing was shown to a group inside the court without public visibility.

The issue was whether the video would be shown to a jury at the Dixon trial. The judge ruled it would not be admitted.

Judge Marques rules the video of Clayton's murder will not be admitted at the Dixon trial. All the other evidence will be ruled on later. #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) June 5, 2019

Loyd faces the death penalty in both cases.