Judge considers evidence issues between state, defense in Madison Brooks’ rape case

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — On Tuesday, a Baton Rouge judge said the state must offer more evidence to the defense in regard to the Madison Brooks case.

Judge Gail Ray held a hearing for Casen Carver, one of three defendants in the Madison Brooks case. Most of the hearing was closed to the public, according to East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore.

He said the judge “reset the defendant’s motion to compel and the state is working to provide the defense with the digital evidence they are legally entitled.”

The state is giving defense counsel all witnesses’ first and last names, according to Moore.

He said the state has contraband related to the case, and Ray is reviewing it to decide whether the defense should get a copy. Moore said they expect a decision at the next court date.

According to an affidavit , in January 2023, Carver, Kaivon Washington and Everett Lee left a Tigerland bar with Brooks. She was reportedly raped before getting out of the vehicle and walking into traffic with a very high blood alcohol level. She was hit by a vehicle and died of her injuries.

Carver faces charges of first-degree and third-degree rape. Washington was charged with third-degree rape, and Lee faces charges of principal to third-degree rape. A fourth man in the vehicle was not charged, according to court documents.

Moore said his office and the defense are working to resolve all discovery matters. Higher courts are expected to make a decision on a writ the state took of the court’s ruling earlier this year.

“The State and victim’s family want to move this matter forward to trial, however not at the expense of jeopardizing a trial that is fair,” said Moore.

The next court date is set for Sept. 4.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter .

Latest Posts

• BMW’s new designs driving massive sales increases
• Trump says he has ‘nothing to do’ with Project 2025, disagrees with some of its elements
• Two bitten in shark attacks at Texas’ South Padre Island
• UK’s new foreign secretary once called Trump ‘a neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath’
• Wisconsin high court rules absentee drop boxes can be used in November

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.