U.S. marshal’s murder trial expected to last three weeks

The trial of a U.S. marshal accused of murdering a Navy seaman after a traffic altercation began Monday with a failed prosecution effort to bar expert testimony from a defense witness.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Arthur L. Lloyd has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Navy Seaman Ryan Todd Stowers. The 28-year veteran was suspended without pay by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The trial will last at least three weeks.

Maryland Deputy State's Attorney John McCarthy filed a motion to bar an expert witness from testifying in the trial because Lloyd's attorneys hired him after the deadline had passed for gathering evidence. He said his staff would be unfairly burdened with finding background information about the expert during the trial.

Ann S. Harrington, administrative judge for the Montgomery Circuit Court, said it was unfortunate that the investigation would have to take place during the trial, but ruled that the witness should not be prevented from testifying.

According to court documents, Lloyd was driving to a Toys "R" Us store on Rockville Pike in Rockville, Md., on Oct. 28, 2004, with his family when Stowers pulled up behind him and started honking his horn because he thought Lloyd had cut him off. Lloyd and Stowers pulled into the Mid-Pike Shopping Plaza parking lot, where Lloyd showed Stowers his U.S. Marshals badge and told him he was a federal officer.

After exchanging heated words, the two came to blows, resulting in two broken fingers, a black eye and head injuries for Lloyd. A state autopsy report on Stowers found forehead and chest abrasions and contusions on the back of his right hand, knee and thighs.

At some point, Lloyd shot Stowers in the leg, which prompted Stowers to get into his car. Lloyd's attorneys say Stowers told Lloyd "I'll kill you," and spun his car around and sped toward the marshal. Lloyd fired three times, hitting Stowers once in the back.

According to a state toxicology report, Stowers had a blood alcohol concentration as high as 0.22 when he died. The legal blood-alcohol driving limit in Maryland is 0.08.

Stowers' parents and sister attended the trial's jury selection phase, which was expected to be completed Monday. Lloyd, whose lawyers tried three times to get Harrington to grant him bail, also was present.

Harrington said there is a possibility that the car Stowers died in, a red Chevrolet Camaro, could be brought to the courthouse on a flatbed truck so the jury could examine the vehicle. The entrance angles of the shots fired could be critical in determining whether Stowers was driving toward Lloyd or away from him when he was shot.