LEE COUNTY, S.C. — Opening arguments commenced Tuesday morning in the trial of Stephen Green, who faces charges of murder, assault, and battery by mob for his alleged role in the deadly 2018 riot at Lee Correctional Institution. The violent incident left seven inmates dead and numerous others injured.
Prosecutors argued that Green was part of a mob fueled by gang loyalty, describing the incident as a case of "blind revenge."
Prosecutors claim Green fatally stabbed inmate Cornelius McClary, delivering what they referred to as the "kill shot" after McClary had already been stabbed around 100 times.
The defense, however, argued that the state had not presented concrete evidence linking Green to McClary’s murder.
Matthew Hicks, Green’s attorney, said that no murder weapon with Green's DNA has been found.
“They’ve had nearly unlimited manpower, time, and resources for over six years to find any shred of evidence, yet they haven’t been able to place the murder weapon in his hands,” Hicks told the jury.
Edward Tisdale, an associate warden at Lee Correctional, was the first witness called to the stand. Tisdale recounted receiving a call about the first stabbing and detailed how prison officials worked to secure the facility during the riot.
Lt. Burley, who was a yard sergeant at Lee Correctional, testified that Green could be seen in video footage holding a weapon inside the F1 dormitory, where McClary was killed.
However, the defense questioned the reliability of the footage, noting blind spots in the camera system and suggesting that Green's identity could not be conclusively verified, especially as he emerged from a blind spot wearing a mask and different shoes.
The trial will continue tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday with more witnesses expected to take the stand.