Black Felon Testifies to Seeing His Own Brother Murder a White Man

M Live
January 22, 2015

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Joel Battaglia was beaten to death and then robbed by one of the wild animals in Grand Rapids.

The brother of a man suspected in the 1990 killing of Joel Battaglia testified he watched his brother “beat down” another man he later learned died.

Acey Marshall, 52, described how he stood nearby while his brother, Aurelias Marshall, and another person were punching a man along Lake Drive SE.

“Malcolm hits the guy, then my brother hits the guy. They’re hitting the guy over and over,” Acey Marshall testified Tuesday, Jan. 20 during a probable cause hearing for Aurelias “A.J.” Marshall.

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Aurelias Marshall has been charged with killing him.

Aurelias Marshall, 56, is charged with open murder in the cold case.

Three other people, including Acey Marshall and a man named Malcolm Jeffries, are charged with perjury.

Acey Marshall, who testified while in a wheelchair because of a stroke, acknowledged he never called 911. He said he didn’t know the man was so badly hurt.

“In my neighborhood, I’ve seen a lot of people get beat down, but I don’t get involved in it,” he testified.

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Another Black witness has come forward who also saw the killing, here she is greeting Joel’s parents, Gail and Jerry Battaglia.