Two Atlantic City brothers tied to a violent drug gang will go on trial for murder this summer.
Mykal and Malik Derry are set to go to trial Aug. 21.
The men are accused in the fatal 2013 shooting of Tyquinn James, outside Mecca Chicken on Adriatic Avenue.
James, 25, was shot shortly after he walked in front of the store. Video surveillance shows a masked man on a bike come up seconds later, pull out a gun, shoot and bike away.
James falls immediately to the ground.
The video was previously shown at the Derry brothers’ federal trial in Camden, where Mykal was convicted for his part as the leader of the Dirty Blok gang, categorized as a deadly group trafficking drugs in Atlantic City. Malik Derry was convicted as an enforcer, and is the alleged shooter in the Feb. 10, 2013 killing.
A federal raid that March resulted in 25 arrests. The Derrys were already jailed in the James case, arrested at the Motor Vehicle Commission in Egg Harbor Township, allegedly trying to get identifications made to go to a shooting range.
The murder trial has been delayed for various reasons, including Malik Derry having issues with his appointed defense attorneys.
He allegedly threatened at least two,
including one in front of a judge.
But Derry told BreakingAC, he was just looking for someone to fight for him and not “be railroaded into taking a plea.”
He is now on his fourth attorney, Joseph Liguori, who Derry said he feels good about.
The lawyers are pooled, meaning they are private attorneys but paid by the state because Derry is eligible for a public defender.
After four attorneys, the state could move to have Derry represent himself at trial.
