DETROIT – A hearing for the man accused of murdering a well-known Detroit doctor continued on Tuesday.
Desmond Burks, 34, was back in court for a preliminary examination in connection with the death of 53-year-old Dr. Devon Hoover.
The hearing began on Monday, June 23, and continued on Tuesday, June 24.
It will resume on Wednesday, June 25.
Here are some facts to know about the case:
- Dr. Devon Hoover was found dead at his home in Detroit’s Boston-Edison Historic District on Sunday, April 23, 2023. He was a neurosurgeon at Ascension Hospital in Detroit at the time of his death.
- Police found his body wrapped in a carpet in the attic of his house.
- An autopsy confirmed he died from two gunshot wounds to his head.
- Desmond Burks was charged in Hoover’s death after he was arrested in an unrelated road rage case.
Read more: Man charged in well-known Detroit doctor’s murder to appear in court. Here’s everything we know
Media coverage rules:
We’ll have live updates for you throughout this hearing, but there are a few rules from the judge regarding media coverage.
According to an order filed by 36th District Court Judge Shawn K. Jacque, we cannot:
- Live stream the hearing
- Show or publish the faces of any witnesses
- Show or publish the names of any witnesses
- Play or publish the voices of any witnesses (unless their voices are concealed or disguised)
Here are the full updates from Day 2 of Burks’ preliminary examination:
Court concludes for Tuesday
- 4:17 p.m. Tuesday
The judge has ended court for Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The preliminary examination will resume in the morning on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Witness 7’s testimony concludes
- 4:16 p.m. Tuesday
No cross-examination from the defense. Testimony for Witness 7 has concluded.
Witness 7 receives additional text from Hoover
- 4:11 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 7 said that when they went back into the house, they saw Hoover and Burks having intercourse.
After that, the witness left.
Witness 7 had exchanged numbers with Hoover. At the time, Witness 7 didn’t have Hoover’s name.
A few days later, Witness 7 received a text from Hoover about the three of them meeting up again.
The prosecution also read text messages that Hoover sent to Burks about asking Witness 7 to meet up with them again. Burks had said he didn’t like what happened, but he only did it for Hoover.
Hoover, Witness 7 met at park
- 4:04 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 7 talked about coming into contact with Dr. Hoover at Palmer Park on April 19, 2023.
The witness identified Hoover as the person they met from a photograph.
After talking, the witness said they both decided to go back to Hoover’s house.
Witness 7 said they went through the back gate to get into the home. The gate was already open. The witness and Hoover drove to the home separately.
The witness said that when they arrived, they went to the second floor of the home.
Witness 7 said they had sex with Hoover.
After that, Hoover requested that Witness 7 stay and watch him have a sexual encounter with another person.
While this person was on the way, Witness 7 went outside to their car.
When they saw the third person pull up to the house, Witness 7 sent a message to Hoover saying they would come back in.
Witness 7 said the person who arrived walked with a cane and had a limp.
Witness 7 called to testify
- 4:02 p.m. Tuesday
A seventh witness was called to testify.
Prosecution reads text messages
- 4:00 p.m. Tuesday
The prosecution read text messages that were sent between Burks and Hoover. They, and a third person, talked about meeting up.
Witness 6’s testimony concludes
- 3:58 p.m. Tuesday
Testimony from Witness 6 has concluded.
Defense argues Witness 6 wasn’t afraid of Burks
- 3:49 p.m. Tuesday
The attorney said that when Burks had money, Witness 6 didn’t really know where it came from, and the witness agreed.
The defense also argued that Witness 6 continued to hang out with Burks after he was arrested and released.
The attorney also questioned Witness 6’s comment about Burks saying that he was a “whole murderer.” She said Witness 6 never told them anything about Burks saying that he was a murderer.
According to the testimony, the defense attorney argues that it sounds like Witness 6 wasn’t in fear of Burks because they continued to have a relationship.
When the prosecution asked Witness 6 if Burks had threatened them in a prior interview, the witness said they had heard Burks being verbally aggressive, but never said anything about Burks calling himself a murderer.
The defense said Witness 6 never bothered to tell the prosecution about that in their prior interview.
Defense questions Witness 6 about Burks
- 3:43 p.m. Tuesday
The defense asks Witness 6 about Burks walking with a cane and a walker.
After a month of meeting, they began communicating every day, according to the witness.
The defense asked where they would meet up. Besides their houses, they met up at a bath house and a park, according to the witness.
Witness 6 said there were multiple times when a third person was involved with them sexually.
She also asked Witness 6 about the immunity.
Witness 6 said they didn’t see Burks with a gun, and said Burks had a phone in his hand.
That incident is what Witness 6 had immunity for, even though the witness never said Burks had a gun.
Cross-examination
- 3:42 p.m. Tuesday
The cross-examination of Witness 6 begins.
Witness excused
- 3:41 p.m. Tuesday
A witness was excused because they will not get to their testimony today due to timing. That person was told to return to court tomorrow morning.
Court resumes
- 3:40 p.m. Tuesday
Court resumed after a brief break.
Defense asks for brief break
- 3:23 p.m. Tuesday
The defense attorney asked the judge for a brief break.
Video from extended stay hotel, Hoover’s watch
- 3:15 p.m. Tuesday
Video footage from an extended stay hotel in Dearborn was played in court.
Witness 6 identified Burks in the video. Burks signed into the hotel while holding a box of Nike shoes.
Burks was wearing a necklace. Witness 6 said they didn’t recall Burks purchasing it at the jewelry store.
The witness said they never saw Burks with a designer watch before he had been detained.
Witness 6 said that after Burks was released, they saw Burks with a watch that had a white face, with a silver base and a black leather strap.
The witness believes it was a Cartier watch.
Burks was wearing the watch Witness 6 described in the video footage from the hotel.
Prosecutors said Hoover purchased the Cartier watch from a store at Somerset Mall two days before he was found dead.
Witness 6 identifies Burks in video surveillance
- 3:00 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 identifies Burks in the surveillance video from the corner where Burks had lived.
Video footage of Witness 6 dropping Burks off at Fairlane Mall was played.
Footage of Burks inside the mall and going into a jewelry store was also shown in court.
Video shows Burks buying jewelry with a pile of cash.
Police want to question Witness 6
- 2:56 p.m. Tuesday
After Burks was arrested the first time, the witness said they heard Burks arguing with a friend aggressively and said something along the lines of “don’t make me have to use my animal instincts, I’m a whole murderer.”
A few weeks after Burks was arrested, the police went to question Witness 6.
They went to a family member of Witness 6’s house to question Witness 6, but Witness 6 wasn’t there.
Authorities wanted Witness 6 to go to the station to do an interview.
Witness 6 said they told Burks about this, and Burks said, “What the f*** are you doing, you don’t have to talk to them.”
Burks asks Witness 6 to retrieve his items from police
- 2:55 p.m. Tuesday
Burks asked Witness 6 to go to the police station and try to get his property for him.
Witness 6 didn’t go because they didn’t want any contact with the police.
Burks told Witness 6 ‘deceased person’ sent them money
- 2:51 p.m. Tuesday
Weeks later, Witness 6 confronted Burks about the gun.
Burks had asked the witness to call a number to see if the call would go through.
The witnesses said their call didn’t go through.
Then Witness 6 picked Burks up and took him to a friend’s house.
They discovered that the police executed a search warrant at this person’s home and took their phone as part of the homicide investigation.
After that, Witness 6 took Burks home and asked him why the police would take the friend’s phone.
Burks responded and said, “to see if the deceased person sent them any money,” according to the witness.
The witness said Burks told them that the deceased person had sent that person and Witness 6 money.
Gun dumped in Rouge Park
- 2:50 p.m. Tuesday
They went to Rouge Park to get rid of the gun.
The witness said they drove through a couple of times to find a spot to dump the gun.
Once they found a spot, Burks got out and went and threw the gun off the side of a bridge.
While this was happening, Witness 6 was on the phone with the rental car company to try and get the car back, since it was still impounded.
Burks contacts Witness 6
- 2:49 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 learned about Hoover’s death on the news.
After Burks was released, he called Witness 6 to pick him up and told the witness to bring the bag.
The witness told Burks the bag was already destroyed, but brought the gun.
They picked Burks up from a T-Mobile in Detroit and took him to Rouge Park.
Witness panicked, disposed of items
- 2:46 p.m. Tuesday
The witness said they panicked when they found the items.
Witness 6 said they took Hoover’s glasses apart and put the pieces in various trash cans.
The witness burned the clothes in a BBQ pit.
They initially threw the gun in a dumpster in Farmington Hills, but went back and got it and wrapped it in a black trash bag.
Witness 6 had told a friend about what they had found.
Witness 6 finds Hoover’s items, gun in Burks’ backpack
- 2:45 p.m. Tuesday
When Witness 6 went online to look up where the car was, they discovered it was impounded and that it had a homicide flag on it.
After discovering that, the witness went home and opened Burks’ bag.
The witness found a black and gray box with Dr. Hoover’s name on it, which had a pair of surgical goggles inside that also had Hoover’s name on them.
The goggles were ones with magnifying lenses on them.
There were also clothes, toothpaste and a 9mm handgun in the bag.
The clothes in the bag were dark blue jeans and a white shirt.
Witness 6 discovers Burks was in jail
- 2:43 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 said the rental was coming up due, and they weren’t getting any responses from Burks.
The witness said they drove around to the places the two of them would go to see if they could find Burks, but they couldn’t find him.
So, the witness said they decided to call the Detroit Detention Center, and officials told the witness that Burks was there.
Witness 6 then called the jail back to find out where the rental car was at.
Burks dropped off backpack
- 2:42 p.m. Tuesday
The witness said Burks had talked about going to Miami and maybe Chicago when they were going to rent the car.
Days later, the witness said Burks asked if Witness 6 could hold onto a bag for him while he was out of town.
Burks dropped off a dark-colored backpack.
Burks asks Witness 6 to hold onto belongings for him
- 2:38 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 also took Burks to a shopping center, where Burks went into a store.
Burks came back from the center with shopping bags.
After renting the Expedition for Burks, Witness 6 ran a few errands.
A couple of days later, Burks asked the witness if he could leave a bag of clothes and belongings at Witness 6’s house.
Rental cars
- 2:34 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 had rented a car for Burks and extended it for a couple of days.
Burks sent the witness a message about getting a loan and not having enough money.
Witness 6 also rented an Expedition for Burks to use. The plan initially was to get a different vehicle, but they switched it.
The reservation was in Witness 6’s name because Burks didn’t have a license.
The witness said Burks paid for the first rental the witness got him up front. When it was due back, the witness fronted the money to extend that one.
For the second rental, Burks told the witness that a friend was going to send money up front to cover the rental. The witness received the money via Cash App.
The witness drove the second rental off the lot, and Burks drove the witness’s car.
They stopped at a nearby hotel to swap vehicles.
Additional cell, Cash App transactions
- 2:30 p.m. Tuesday
The witness said Burks had an iPhone, but they also saw Burks with a Samsung phone when the witness drove him to the mall.
The following day, Burks sent the witness a few hundred dollars via Cash App.
The witness said they sent the money back to Burks at a different Cash App account.
Burks asks Witness 6 to take him to mall
- 2:25 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 said Burks asked them to take him to Fairlane Mall. The witness said Burks was trying to find a way to make some money.
The witness said Burks had no substantial income when the witness filed his taxes for him.
Witness 6 picked Burks up and gave him a ride to Fairlane Mall. On the way, Burks said he wanted to get a pendant.
Burks went into the mall, but Witness 6 didn’t go inside.
The witness told the prosecution that Burks was in the mall for about 30 minutes.
Burks told Witness 6 he didn’t have enough money to buy the pendant, and the witness believes he bought a pair of earrings.
Drive-by, seeing Burks with gun
- 2:22 p.m. Tuesday
Burks and Witness 6 went and did a drive-by at a home of a friend that he used to live with, according to the testimony.
Witness 6 drove, and Burks was in the passenger seat.
Burks asked Witness 6 to circle back, and Burks rolled down the window and yelled “Boo.” Witness 6 said this made them jump.
Witness 6 said a few weeks after this drive-by, they saw Burks with a firearm. The witness said Burks had the gun on his left hip and that Burks is left-handed.
Burks reenters courtroom
- 2:18 p.m. Tuesday
Burks and his attorney walked back into the courtroom.
Burks leaves court to speak with attorney
- 2:14 p.m. Tuesday
Burks’ attorney asked if she could step out of the room with Burks because he was trying to tell her things.
The defense attorney and Burks left the courtroom.
Witness asked to step out of courtroom
- 2:10 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 was asked to step out of the courtroom while the prosecution and defense discussed a matter regarding Witness 6’s immunity with the judge.
How Burks made money
- 2:06 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 said Burks sold pills and sex for money.
This witness said they would post ads for Burks on an online website for Burks to advertise his services. This was in May 2023.
Witness 6 wouldn’t exchange money with Burks for sex, but said they would buy Burks things.
Gave rides, bought Burks items
- 2:05 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 said they helped give Burks rides and paid his phone bill once. This witness also helped Burks prepare his taxes.
The witness also bought Burks shoes, bought him weed, gave him an old cellphone and bought him clothes.
Third party introduced to relationship
- 2:04 p.m. Tuesday
A third person was introduced into their relationship. (It was not Hoover)
Regular communication
- 2:03 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 said they eventually texted with Burks daily.
Meeting Burks in person
- 1:58 p.m. Tuesday
They exchanged phone numbers that day.
Witness 6 said it was dim, and Burks was sitting in a chair when the witness walked into the house.
They had a sexual encounter.
When Witness 6 was leaving, they saw Burks walking with a pronounced limp.
Burks later told Witness 6 that he had been shot.
Witness 6 met Burks online
- 1:57 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 6 met Burks on an online website in 2022.
They met up later that day they met.
Witness testifying under order of immunity
- 1:56 p.m. Tuesday
The sixth witness is testifying under an order of immunity for potential involvement in the case.
Witness 6 called to testify
- 1:55 p.m. Tuesday
A sixth witness was called to testify.
Witness 5 concludes testimony
- 1:51 p.m. Tuesday
Testimony from Witness 5 has concluded.
Coyle Street surveillance footage
- 1:49 p.m. Tuesday
The defense attorney asked about where the surveillance cameras on Coyle Street were located.
Cross-examination
- 1:48 p.m. Tuesday
The defense team started cross-examining Witness 5.
Video from Somerset Mall in Troy
- 1:45 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 5 went to Somerset Mall in Troy to review video footage, which showed the victim (Hoover) making a purchase on April 21, 2023, two days before he was found dead.
Video from Dearborn hotel
- 1:43 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 5 reviewed footage from a hotel in Dearborn.
Video from mall in Dearborn
- 1:38 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 5 reviewed exterior and interior cameras from Fairlane Mall in Dearborn. They also reviewed an interior camera from a jewelry store.
Video surveillance
- 1:36 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 5 said they left the location after obtaining the photos. After receiving a phone call from the person who gave the witness the photos, Witness 5 went back to get surveillance video.
Photos obtained
- 1:34 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 5 obtained images from a surveillance camera located near Coyle Street, where Hoover’s SUV was found.
Witness 5 testifies
- 1:33 p.m. Tuesday
Witness 5 talked about assisting with the Hoover homicide investigation.
Fifth witness called to testify
- 1:29 p.m. Tuesday
A fifth witness was called to testify. We will refer to them as “Witness 5″ in this article.
Judge amends media coverage order again
- 1:24 p.m. Tuesday
The judge said moving forward, the media can only refer to witnesses as “Witness A” or “Witness 1″ and not share details that could identify them.
Burks re-enters courtroom
- 1:07 p.m. Tuesday
Burks has walked back into the courtroom.
Court still on break
- 1:06 p.m. Tuesday
Court is still on its lunch break, but is expected to resume soon.
The judge started the break at about 12:08 p.m., so the hearing should resume at around 1:08 p.m.
Catch up on the case
- 12:21 p.m. Tuesday
If you want to catch up on everything we’ve learned about this case before court resumes, you can read the following articles for more information:
--> Man charged in well-known Detroit doctor’s murder to appear in court. Here’s everything we know
--> Full updates: Hearing for man accused of murdering well-known Detroit doctor begins
Court goes on lunch break
- 12:08 p.m. Tuesday
Court goes on a one-hour lunch break. Burks leaves the courtroom.
Fourth witness concludes testimony
- 12:06 p.m. Tuesday
Testimony from the fourth witness has concluded.
Cross-examination
- 12:03 p.m. Tuesday
The defense attorney questioned her about how long she had known Burks.
She said that she didn’t know why Burks had been in prison, but he told her that he had been released from prison recently.
When the defense asked if she ever looked into this later, she said it wasn’t her business.
Sexual conversations
- 12:02 p.m. Tuesday
The prosecution asked the witness about certain search terms that were used on the online website so that sexual conversations wouldn’t be flagged in messages. For example, the word “nake” was used for “naked.”
Financial transactions
- 11:58 a.m. Tuesday
The witness said they had sex at the home in Detroit.
After that day, Burks contacted the witness about financial transactions. He called her and asked for her Cash App name.
Burks told her he was going to send her some money, and that she could keep $200 or $250 and then send the majority of the funds back to him.
The witness said he had sent her around $600.
Witness meets Burks in person
- 11:57 a.m. Tuesday
The witness met Burks in person at a two-story home on the west side of Detroit.
She initially couldn’t recall if Burks had said how he got the limp, but after reviewing transcripts, said Burks did tell her that he had been shot.
Selling pills
- 11:56 a.m. Tuesday
The witness said that Burks asked her if she knew anybody who wanted to buy or sell pills.
Witness talks about Burks’ criminal history
- 11:55 a.m. Tuesday
The witness said she asked Burks about his criminal history after seeing a tattoo on his face.
Witness met Burks online
- 11:53 a.m. Tuesday
The witness said she met Burks on a social dating website called Mocospace.
They exchanged messages and then eventually met in person. The witness said he had a limp and walked with a cane.
Fourth witness to testify
- 11:52 a.m. Tuesday
A fourth witness has been called to testify.
Burks re-enters courtroom
- 11:50 a.m. Tuesday
Burks reenters the courtroom.
Court still on break
- 11:42 a.m. Tuesday
Court is still on a break.
Brief break
- 11:34 a.m. Tuesday
The judge said they were going to go on a brief five-minute break. Burks exited the courtroom.
Third witness concludes testimony
- 11:34 a.m. Tuesday
Testimony from the third witness has concluded.
Defense brings up gun messages
- 11:32 a.m. Tuesday
The witness said he doesn’t sell guns and wasn’t aware of anyone who sells guns when the defense asked why Burks contacted him about wanting to buy a gun.
Burks’ Cash App accounts
- 11:30 a.m. Tuesday
The witness told the defense that he saw Burks use his cane.
The defense also clarified that Burks had multiple Cash App accounts.
When Burks instructed him to send money back, the witness said that was unusual, but he hadn’t reported anything about it to the authorities or questioned Burks about it.
Defense brings up relationship
- 11:29 a.m. Tuesday
The defense asked the witness about Burks trying to get someone involved in their relationship.
The witness said that it was only for the sexual part of their relationship, but it never happened.
Witness explains when he knew Burks was in custody
- 11:27 a.m. Tuesday
The witness told the defense that he had set up the account to talk to Burks after he was arrested for punching someone.
When the defense asked, the witness clarified that he knew Burks was in custody, but not for the Hoover case.
Cross-examination of third witness
- 11:26 a.m. Tuesday
The defense begins cross-examining the third witness.
Burks tried to contact witness 44 times
- 11:23 a.m. Tuesday
The witness found out Burks was in custody when he was questioned by the investigators.
After that, Burks tried to contact the witness while he was in custody.
The witness said they had created an account to speak with Burks, but never did.
The witness also said Burks has continued to try to video chat with them.
According to the testimony, Burks tried to contact this witness 44 times.
Burks told witness he wanted to buy gun
- 11:18 a.m. Tuesday
Burks told the witness he wanted to buy a gun, but he was short $50. He sent a photo of the firearm to the witness.
Witness says Burks was selling pills
- 11:16 a.m. Tuesday
The witness said that Burks was selling pain pills once he got sick. T
hey said they dropped Burks off at the place to pick up prescriptions and then took him home.
Burks told witness to delete Cash App account
- 11:13 a.m. Tuesday
After these transactions, Burks told the witness to take their card off the Cash App account and delete it.
The witness said they took the card off, but didn’t delete the account.
Money transactions
- 11:09 a.m. Tuesday
The third witness said that at first the amounts requested were small, but then they got bigger.
They said at one point, Burks sent $500, and then the witness kept $100 and sent back $400 to another account associated with Burks.
There were two transactions like this.
Prosecution reads texts
- 11:09 a.m. Tuesday
The prosecution read text messages between Burks and the third witness. Burks asked for money, and they exchanged Cash App names.
Burks asked witness for money
- 11:04 a.m. Tuesday
The third witness told the prosecution that they had let Burks borrow their car before and had given him $20 here and there and other small amounts in cash and over Cash App when Burks had asked him for it.
Relationship between Burks, third witness
- 11:01 a.m. Tuesday
The third witness said the relationship between them and Burks was sexual. The witness said they wanted it to just be between them, but Burks wanted others to join. Other people never joined their relationship, according to the testimony.
Burks told the witness that he was keeping their relationship private.
Third witness
- 11:00 a.m. Tuesday
The third witness said they met Burks in 2016 or 2017 on a website called Mocospace.
The witness said they initially presented themself as a female and dressed as a female when they met Burks.
Next witness called to testify
- 10:59 a.m. Tuesday
A third witness has been called to testify.
Judge discusses witnesses
- 10:50 a.m. Tuesday
The judge discusses descriptive terms with witnesses. He said descriptive terms can be revealing and amended his media coverage order to include descriptive terms that could identify a specific witness.
Family member’s testimony concludes
- 10:47 a.m. Tuesday
Burks’ family member’s testimony has concluded.
Before she left the stand, she asked the judge if she could talk to him about something.
The defense and prosecution approached to discuss something with the judge.
Burks’ family member said she cried when she saw video
- 10:46 a.m. Tuesday
Burks’ family member said it was difficult to see Burks in that video and identify him. His family member said she didn’t want to do that.
She said she cried and became overwhelmed with emotion because she knew it was him.
Burks tells family member it wasn’t him in video
- 10:41 a.m. Tuesday
The prosecution asks Burks’ family member about their jail calls from 2023.
Burks talks to his family member about the video the police had shown him.
In the call, Burks denied that it was him walking in that video.
Mention of doctor friend
- 10:38 a.m. Tuesday
The defense attorney asked if the only time Burks mentioned his doctor friend was when he was in the hospital.
His family member said yes, and said they never talked about that friend again.
Recognized his limp
- 10:34 a.m. Tuesday
The family member said he tried to walk without a cane while doing therapy and walking around the house, but would use a cane on long walks.
She said she recognized his walk by his limp, but didn’t see a face or recognize the clothing in the photo that police showed her.
On June 13, 2025, the family member went to the police station and saw the video in which Burks was walking with a limp.
Burks walking with cane
- 10:33 a.m. Tuesday
Burks had a cane and a walker to help him walk after being shot. His family member said she would go pick up his medicine and visit him while he was doing therapy for his back and legs.
She told the defense attorney that Burks was always walking with a cane, but in the summer months of 2023, he started walking without it.
Cross-examination begins
- 10:31 a.m. Tuesday
His family member said she and Burks didn’t have the best relationship, and she didn’t allow him to live in her home.
She visited him in the hospital after he had been shot. His family member said she visited him a lot.
His family member went to visit him about three times a week after he was released.
Storage unit in Dearborn
- 10:30 a.m. Tuesday
He asked his family member to go to a storage unit in Dearborn to get his belongings.
When she went, there were two padlocks on the unit, and she couldn’t get in.
He had asked her to pick up all his belongings that were in there.
Call about going to hotel
- 10:29 a.m. Tuesday
Burks had asked his family member to go to the hotel room to get his stuff, but she said she did not do this for him.
His family member said she asked someone else to do it, but she didn’t believe they went.
Another call played
- 10:23 a.m. Tuesday
Burks talks on the phone with his family member. He tells his family member that the person who was murdered was gay. In the phone call, his family member told him she didn’t want to talk about that.
His family member said Burks never told her anything about his sexuality.
Burks’ call with family member
- 10:20 a.m. Tuesday
In one call, Burks asked his family member to send him some money via a Cash App card. He asked his family member to go get his property (clothes and Cash App card) from the police, but she didn’t.
Plays call again
- 10:18 a.m. Tuesday
The call was played again, and a transcript of what was said was given to the witness to follow along.
Calls from Burks
- 10:13 a.m. Tuesday
Calls that Burks made to his family member were played in court.
Burks asks a family member to check on friend
- 10:11 a.m. Tuesday
When Burks had been arrested, he asked his family member to check on his friend.
He wanted to know if she was okay and if the police had gone to her house.
When Burks was arrested
- 10:09 a.m. Tuesday
The family member said she learned Burks was in police custody when officers came to her house.
After he was released, Burks’ family member said they didn’t really talk about why he was arrested, but said they talked about what police took from her home.
Burks tells family member about ‘doctor friend’
- 10:08 a.m. Tuesday
The prosecutor asked Burks’ family member if they ever had a conversation about a doctor.
His family member said that he said his doctor friend came to visit him in the hospital. He never told his family member his doctor friend’s name.
Prosecution recalls second witness
- 10:06 a.m. Tuesday
The second witness, Burks’ family member, is taking the stand to resume her testimony.
Judge reviews where court left off
- 10:04 a.m. Tuesday
The judge is reviewing where court left off yesterday before they get started today.
Burks enters the courtroom
- 9:54 a.m. Tuesday
Burks has walked into the courtroom.
What to expect in court on Tuesday
- 9:45 a.m. Tuesday
On Tuesday, the second witness, Burks’ family member, is expected to continue testifying.
The prosecution also said they plan to play phone calls that the witness received from Burks after he was arrested.
What has been discussed so far?
- 9:34 a.m. Tuesday
First, we heard the prosecution read the medical examiner’s report, which showed that Hoover was shot while lying on the ground and then dragged.
The officer testified about seeing blood inside Hoover’s car and sending other officers to go check Hoover’s home after they learned he was the registered owner of the vehicle.
Body camera footage was played in court that showed officers knocking on doors and windows at Hoover’s home. They left after no one answered.
They also played surveillance video that showed Burks with Hoover’s SUV on Coyle Street in the afternoon on April 22, 2023, the day before Hoover’s body was found.
The second witness, Burks’ family member, said she recognized that it was Burks in the video because he was walking with a limp. Burks had been walking with a limp due to being shot.
Who has testified so far?
- 9:24 a.m. Tuesday
During the first day of Burks’ preliminary examination, two witnesses were called to testify.
The first person called was a Detroit police officer who responded to the 911 call about Hoover’s SUV blocking a driveway on Coyle Street.
The second person who testified was Burks’ family member.
Day 1 of preliminary exam
- 9:16 a.m. Tuesday
If you missed our coverage of the first day of Burks’ preliminary examination, you can catch up on what happened by reading the following article:
--> Full updates: Hearing for man accused of murdering well-known Detroit doctor begins