Witness Says Woman Ran Over, Killed Another Woman in Argument

Witness Says Woman Ran Over, Killed Another Woman in Argument
Alameda County Superior Courthouse. 1225 Fallon St, Oakland, CA 94612. (Map data @2018 Google)
9/11/2018
Updated:
9/11/2018

A witness testified on Sept. 10, that one woman deliberately ran over another woman with a car and killed her during an argument over a man in East Oakland in June.

At the preliminary hearing for 26-year-old Tiffany Martin of Oakland, who is accused of murder for the death of 24-year-old Briana Robinson of Berkeley, Jose Luis Rodriguez said the victim was struck in the middle of the street in the 1200 block of 73rd Avenue at about 12:50 p.m. on June 2.

Rodriguez said, “The car accelerated and they were trying to run her (the victim) over. It went right at her.”

Speaking through an interpreter, Rodriguez testified, “It (the car) hit her, she fell on the ground and the car went right over her.”

Rodriguez said he couldn’t identify the driver who struck and killed the victim.

But Oakland police Officer Yun Zhou wrote in a probable cause statement that multiple witnesses identified Martin as the driver who struck and killed Robinson.

Zhou said Martin “deliberately using her vehicle without justification struck the victim (Robinson).”

He said Robinson suffered mortal injuries from being struck by the car and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Rodriguez said he was in the area just talking with friends and relatives when he heard two women “fighting about a man” and the fatal collision occurred a short time later.

Martin, who was dressed in a green and white jail uniform, spoke up several times during testimony at her hearing on Sept. 10.

Finally, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Allan Hymer, who was presiding over the hearing, told Martin’s lawyer, Steven Alpers, “Mr. Alpers, tell your client not to speak.”

The hearing, which will determine if prosecutors present enough evidence to have Martin stand trial on a murder charge and an enhancement of using a deadly weapon, namely a car, will continue on Sept. 11.

Robinson’s mother, Taisha Gothin-Newman, who attended the hearing along with several other family members, said Robinson had two sons and was “a phenomenal young mother.”

By Jeff Shuttleworth