FLINT – Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said a jury has found a Flint man guilty on all counts related to a brutal assault on a woman in 2020.
Derek Cordell Garner, Sr., 57, is convicted of six felonies including assault by strangulation and with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder; domestic violence third offense; assault with the intent to commit criminal sexual conduct involving penetration; interference with an electronic communications device; criminal sexual conduct first degree; and kidnapping.
According to testimony at trial, on May 2, 2020, at approximately 10:30 p.m., City of Flint police were dispatched to Herrick Street in reference to unknown trouble. When they arrived, they found a group of people gathered on a sidewalk and one of them immediately ran to police and pointed at a man standing nearby, later identified as Garner, and told the police he had violently assaulted a woman.
The woman was observed by police to have swelling and bruising to the left side of her forehead, lips and mouth, her mouth was covered in blood, and she had blood on her legs and arms. Further testimony revealed that the woman had been living with Garner, who the victim viewed as a family friend, for several weeks while she was in Flint from out of state to appear in court on a custody matter. On the date of the incident, the two had been arguing over their relationship when things turned violent. Garner began beating her, and several times when she tried to escape, he chased her and dragged her back into the house. The violence included three sexual assaults over the course of an eight-hour period.
The victim eventually jumped out a first-floor window and ran, half naked, through neighbors’ yards yelling for help. Garner chased her and continued to beat her as she struggled to escape.
Neighbors heard the victim’s cries for help and called 9-1-1 while reporting the victim was being strangled. Eventually, she was able to find safety in one neighbor’s home before the police arrived.
“This woman was severely beaten and traumatized; I cannot imagine what she suffered at the hands of the defendant,” Leyton said. “Her bravery in cooperating with the police and my office allowed us to seek justice in a courtroom and to hold the defendant accountable for his deplorable actions.”
Leyton commended the work of lead assistant prosecutor Rachel Smith, his entire victim advocate unit, support staff and the police for working hard to see this case through to trial several years after the assaults took place. He noted several issues presented significant challenges and delayed the eventual jury trial including the death of the victim whose preliminary examination testimony transcript had to be read into
evidence during the circuit court trial.
Garner faces up to life in prison or a term of years when sentenced.