Benton man accused of murder wants evidence excluded from trial

(WABI) – A Benton man accused of murder in Fairfield wants a bloody knife and clothes thrown out as evidence in his trial.

Raheem Goodwin, 23, is charged with the murder of 62-year-old Edwin Weeks of Fairfield, who was killed last November.

A day after the murder, Goodwin was arrested following a police chase that ended with a crash and standoff.

Officials say Goodwin threw a bloody knife on the side of the road during the standoff. They say he also started a fire in the vehicle.

Authorities also say another bloody knife and clothing were found in a dumpster at the trailer park where Goodwin was living at the time.

These items were then used as evidence.

According to the Kennebec Journal, Goodwin’s attorneys asked the court Wednesday to throw out the evidence because of what they called an improper search.

However, a prosecutor says Goodwin did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy because other residents of the caravan park used the same containers.

A trial date for the murder charge has been set for February next year.