Tavaris Jackson, accused of open murder in the 2023 death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend Harley Corwin, appeared virtually Dec. 18 and Tuesday in the 47th Circuit Court of Delta County in Escanaba, along with his defense team, Diane Kay-Hougaboom and James Maki, and members of the Michigan Attorney General's office, Shawn Ryan and Caitlin Kirby. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

ESCANABA – A judge has decided that past statements made by a woman regarding an assault in February 2023 can be used in the trial of the man now accused of killing her later that year.

Tavaris Jackson appeared virtually in the 47th Circuit Court of Delta County in Escanaba on Dec. 18 and again Tuesday after his defense team filed a motion to exclude other acts as evidence from his trial, set for March.

Jackson faces one count of open murder, punishable if convicted by up to life in prison, in the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Harley Corwin. He also faces one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, a two-year felony; and assault resulting in the death of a fetus, also a felony punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Corwin’s body was found in O.B. Fuller Park in Ford River Township on July 8, 2023 – about five months after her reported assault Feb. 28, 2023, which she claimed was at Jackson’s hands.

Judge John Economopoulos on Tuesday said he will allow certain statements Corwin made before her death to be admitted at trial. Economopoulos also ruled the attorney general’s office had proven Jackson had a possible motive for the killing to keep Corwin from testifying against him regarding the Feb. 28, 2023, home invasion and assault.

“This other act specifically from Feb. 28 is relevant to show Mr. Jackson’s character or propensity to commit the same act against (Corwin),” Economopoulos said.

Also Tuesday, Economopoulos determined Jackson forfeited his Sixth Amendment right to confront his accuser – in this case, Corwin — in court proceedings regarding the Feb. 28, 2023, home invasion and assault.

“In a nutshell, the argument of the people is that Ms. Corwin was murdered by Mr. Jackson to render her unavailable from accusing him or testifying against him in reference to his actions on or about Feb. 28, 2023,” Economopoulos said.

He added, “There is a plethora of statements contained within the exhibits that were admitted during the previous hearing that we had. Not all of it comes in. Some of it may have to be redacted. What I’m allowing are Ms. Corwin’s statements that describe what occurred in relation to that Feb. 28, 2023, incident.”

In the Dec. 18 hearing, the court reviewed several exhibits brought by the attorney general’s office regarding other acts evidence that included Corwin’s statements.

“For the purpose of this hearing alone, we’re not talking about matters about exhibits that will be admitted at trial. We’re talking about exhibits that are admitted for the strictly limited purpose of the court’s consideration regarding preliminary questions of fact governing admissibility,” Economopoulos said at that hearing.

Assistant Attorney General Shawn Ryan argued Dec. 18 that Jackson had knowledge of a warrant request for his arrest and wanted to prevent Corwin from testifying against him in potential court proceedings, giving him motive for killing Corwin.

“Frankly, your honor, when you look at all of our exhibits as a totality, (Jackson) knew. The statements he made about trying to convince her that he had an alibi, he had knowledge that there was an investigation going on, he had knowledge that he had a need for an alibi,” Ryan said. “How could he not have had knowledge of the potential of being implicated in her assault?”

Defense attorney Diane Kay-Hougaboom argued Dec. 18 there is no indication Jackson knew about the warrant request and the documents at question don’t prove whether Jackson had or didn’t have knowledge of the open case.

“I would note for the record, though, that the people’s burden is to show that in order for Ms. Corwin to be determined unavailable, the court’s question is whether Ms. Corwin was made unavailable and if it was done by acts specifically by my client to prevent her from testifying. That’s the big question for today,” Kay-Hougaboom said.

According to Ryan, there is no requirement in the case law that the people have to prove the defendant had knowledge a warrant request went to the prosecutor’s office.

Economopoulos overruled the defense’s standing objections Thursday to other acts evidence and various statements Corwin made discussed in court: a 22-page police report containing redactions dated Feb. 28, 2023, from the defendant’s alleged assault on Corwin; 911 call made after the alleged assault; EMS Rampart patient care report in response to the call; video of law enforcement’s follow-up interview of Corwin in relation to the Feb. 28 assault report; defendant’s Snapchat records and the search warrant served to Snapchat; screenshot of Snapchat messages between defendant and Corwin; email Corwin sent to Detective Todd Chouinard of Escanaba Public Safety referencing the case and investigation; supplemental EPS report in regards to additional circumstances surrounding Corwin’s statements to witnesses, her appearance and demeanor after her assault; a photo of Corwin the night of the assault on Feb. 28, 2023, taken by officers on the scene; follow-up photos of Corwin’s injuries in police report; a warrant request that Chouinard sent to prosecutor’s office requesting charges be filed against Jackson in regards to the Feb. 28, 2023, incident; supplemental police report that corrects a typo on the warrant request’s recorded date from June 27, 2028, to June 27, 2023; and a document from the Delta County Prosecutor’s office sent to Chouinard stating their office would be closing the matter regarding the Feb. 28, 2023, incident.

No future court date has been set for Jackson at this time.