Jurors Watch the Bar Footage

The Matthew Morales murder trial moved from testimony to video last week, the Pocono Record reports, following Monday's report on a witness's testimony about a prior threat. On Sept. 23 and 24, jurors watched surveillance footage from three cameras at My Place Bar and Grill in Middle Smithfield Township during the testimony of State Police Trooper James Poliskiewicz. Morales, 33, of Tobyhanna Township, is charged with criminal homicide and two felony firearms counts in the May 24, 2024, death of Henry Koroma Jr. Raymond Batiste, 40, of Allentown, faces two felony counts of hindering apprehension.

Defense attorney Alex Ward, who says Morales acted in self-defense, told the jury during cross-examination that Morales did not have the gun at the start of the video, that it was not chambered when he pulled it out, and that Koroma was gesturing for a fight. Ward also said investigators never checked the East Stroudsburg bar where he told jurors a gang meeting was held before the shooting. Batiste's attorney, Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, said Morales and a third man followed Batiste to his car.

Also on Sept. 23, Coroner Thomas Yanac and forensic pathologist Michael Johnson testified that Koroma died of a gunshot wound to the upper left chest and that the manner of death was homicide. Yanac told the defense that designation does not determine criminality. Bar owner Robert Spano testified that he supplied the footage to state police. No verdict had been reported as of Monday. Both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty.