Guard on Trial for Prisoner's Death

0:00It's March 24th. I'm Corey with the story. This is Canada News today, driven by AI. A former New York prison guard named Jonah Levi is on trial for murder in the death of 22-year-old inmate Messiah Nottwa. This happened at Miss State Correctional Facility on March 1st, 2025. Prosecutors say Levi and 9 other guards beat Nottwa badly, landing 69 blows with fists, boots and batons. Levi allegedly stop repeatedly on Nottwa's head, and DNA from his boots, links him to the attack. Nate we die from severe head trauma and other injuries. The incident unfolded during a three-week wildcat strike by guards, which had the prison system in chaos and led Governor Holtchall to call in National. Guard troops. Guards were called to Nottwee Cell after he resisted a head count and wouldn't cuff up. Things escalated when he grabbed a vest in Bittigar's hand, according to prosecutors. They claimed the team arrived after the situation calmed, but still beat him anyway.

1:00Prisoner advocates pointed this as part of a violent culture in New York State prisons, especially after inmate Robert Brooks was beaten to death, months earlier at a nearby facility. The defense argues, Nottwee, who was high on synthetic marijuana, started the fight and acted aggressively, so the force was justified. Levi's lawyer says his client followed protocol and didn't cause the death. Several other guards have already pleaded guilty to lesser charges tied to the beating and an alleged cover-up, including false claims of finding a, make shift knife. Levi faces charges like second-degree murder, manslaughter, gang assault, conspiracy, and filing a false report. He's the first to face a full jury trial. As the case unfolds, it sheds light on deep issues in the prison system, with both sides presenting starkly different views of that chaotic morning.