UPDATE: The murder trial of filmmaker and journalist Kevin Epps is unfolding dramatically as witnesses recount harrowing details surrounding the fatal shooting of Marcus Polk. Testimony is currently ongoing in San Francisco, where the atmosphere is charged with emotion and tension.
Earlier today, key witnesses Melina Polk, Marcus Polk’s daughter, and Starr Gul, Marcus’s former wife, provided gripping accounts of the events leading up to the tragedy on October 24, 2016. Melina, who was just 17 at the time, described a once-harmonious family environment that rapidly devolved into chaos during the shooting incident.
Melina testified about hearing a heated argument between Epps and her father at the Glen Park home. “I heard two gunshots coming from upstairs,” she recalled, describing her instinct to hide in a closet amid the turmoil. Epps claims the shooting was an act of self-defense after Polk entered the home uninvited.
During the trial, which has drawn significant public attention, both District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and homicide unit head Omid Talai were present to observe the proceedings. Outside the Hall of Justice, approximately 20 supporters rallied for Epps, urging the DA to dismiss the charges against the 57-year-old editor of the San Francisco Bay View newspaper.
Emotions ran high as Epps expressed distress after hearing Melina’s testimony, stating, “I raised Melina,” while wiping tears from his eyes. The shooting has reportedly torn his family apart, leading to deep emotional scars.
The courtroom atmosphere intensified as Melina described her father’s troubled relationship with Epps, who previously had to protect his family from Polk, a man with a history of violent behavior and a past conviction for sex crimes. Witnesses paint a picture of escalating tensions leading up to the tragic day, as Melina noted that on the night before the shooting, Polk was denied entry into the house and was seen banging on the gate.
In a poignant moment, Melina recounted seeing her father gasping for air after the shooting, stating, “He came at me, he came at me,” as Epps allegedly cried out in panic.
Gul, who resumed testimony after Melina, corroborated the familial tensions but also highlighted moments of joy shared between Polk and the children just days before the incident. “It was a good mood,” she confirmed, referring to a family gathering that occurred the weekend before the tragedy.
The stakes are high as the trial continues, and Epps’s attorneys emphasize the strained dynamics within the family, raising questions about his resident status in the home during the shooting. Gul’s testimony indicated that while Epps was close to the family, he had moved out months prior to the incident.
As the trial progresses, jurors remain captivated by the testimony, with many experts and officials monitoring developments closely. Epps’s defense team is determined to establish the context of the family’s tumultuous history with Polk, arguing that Epps acted in defense of his family.
Tomorrow, Gul is expected to continue her testimony, shedding more light on the events that led to this tragic incident. The community is watching closely as the trial unfolds, and its outcome could have significant implications for all involved.
Stay tuned for the latest updates as we continue to follow this urgent story.
