Co-defendant says Davis-Dickson involved in homeless man beating death

Posted on September 23, 2015
Willie Chambers, Tory Washington, and Anthony Davis-Dickson
Willie Chambers (left) took the stand Wednesday in Anthony Davis-Dickson’s (right) murder trial. (Photos courtesy McLean County Jail)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Jurors for the murder trial of Anthony Davis-Dickson heard testimony Wednesday afternoon from a man who’s already pleaded guilty to murder relating to the beating death of Ronald Smith last year.

Davis-Dickson has pleaded not guilty to murder. Willie Chambers, 19, said Davis-Dickson was involved in beating Smith in O’Neil Park in Bloomington in June 2014.

Davis-Dickson told police investigators last year he hit the man, but not as much as the others involved. Chambers said he could not recall if one person hit Smith more than the others.

Chambers signed a plea deal in August which included an agreement to testify in Wednesday’s trial. He said he believed he was tricked into signing the deal, but added that did not keep him from testifying truthfully.

Washington testified earlier on Wednesday.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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