Prelim testimony sheds new light on fatal internet date conspiracy

A clueless, highly inebriated woman who tagged along with the principals, and an observant high school student gave testimony against two men and two women who had set up an internet date for robbery, and ultimately murder.

The occasion was the preliminary examination of the four people charged in the plot. The prelim began yesterday in 46th district court. The defendants, Kevin Huffman, 28, Detroit, James Randle, 35, Detroit, Jessica Ermatinger, 23, Canton, and Lynn Coggins, 37, Oak Park, all face charges of armed robbery and felony murder in the shooting death of Indian software engineer Venkata Subba  Reddy Cuttmanci of West Bloomfied.

Cuttamanci met Ermatinger on the internet, possibly through an escort service. The pair met at a Southfield Wendy's, and latter made plans to go up Telegraph to the E-Z Rest Motel. According to police, that's where Ermatinger's boyfried and others waited for Cuttamanci to show up so they could rob him. Unfortunately, they shot him to death in the process.

Camille Phillips had spent much of June 16 drinking with Coggins, according to her testimony. The pair split a pint and two liters of vodka. Phillips had also smoked some pot earlier. Coggins drove her in a Dodge Durango to a Detroit home where they picked up Ermatinger and Huffman, whom Phillips did not know, and Randle, whom she knew by another name.

After dropping off Ermatinger at a Southfield Wendy's the crew and Phillips drove to the E-Z Rest, where Randle said they would have to wait for Ermatinger.

Eventually, two men exited the car. Phillips, slipping in and out of an alcoholic stupor, heard shots, then saw the men and Ermatinger get into the car. She saw a wallet change hands and one of the men told Coggins to "go,go,go." After the vehicle pulled into a residential area, it was soon surrounded by police. All were arrested, but Phillips was not charged and turned state's evidence.

Another key witness was a teen in a car with his brother and mother in the motel parking lot. He saw Randle and Huffman get out of the Durango and walk up to a man standing next to a Honda.

Then he heard four shots and saw the man slump over. Then the two men and Ermatinger, who had feigned going to the manager's office, ran for the Durango and the vehicle left.

Testimony in the prelim will resume July 21.