Jamaal Alexis, 23, is accused of fatally shooting the Mitchellville man, Raymond Brown, and Rashadd Alexis, 20, is accused of killing a man shortly before he was scheduled to testify as a witness in Jamaal Alexis' trial.

Jamaal Alexis was indicted on 12 counts and Rashadd Alexis was indicted on 10 counts, according to court documents. The brothers were both indicted on charges of murder, first-degree assault and retaliation for testimony, among other charges.

Brown, 36, was killed Oct. 13, 2006, two blocks from his Lake Arbor home after reporting his car was being stolen. Brown approached the tow truck driver that towed his car and was shot. Jamaal Alexis was arrested Jan. 29, 2008, in Brown's death.

Bobby Ennels, 22, of Capitol Heights, was a suspected accomplice in Brown's death and was arrested and charged May 1, 2007, with first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty to a theft charge and agreed to testify in Jamaal Alexis' trial in exchange for leniency.

Ennels was expected to testify against Jamaal Alexis in November 2008 but was killed Oct. 7, 2008. Rashadd Alexis was arrested June 30 in Ennels' death.

"I hope that everyone connected to this will be put away and never hurt anyone again," said Raymond Brown's widow, Danielle Steele Brown, on Thursday, the couple's third wedding anniversary. "They will make an example out of these two people."

A hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 4 and 5 to determine whether prosecutors will be able to admit as evidence Ennels' sworn testimony in the trial against Jamaal Alexis. If the posthumous testimony is allowed, the case would be the first to employ a Maryland law designed to protect witnesses against intimidation.

The Maryland Rule of Evidence 5-804(b)(5) allows prosecutors to use the sworn testimony of witnesses that were made unavailable through intimidation, threatening or homicide.

Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) said that if the law is used in this case it will help justice be served and allow the judge and jury to hear all the evidence.

Jamaal Alexis' trial, which has been postponed five times as he switched attorneys and evidence was being gathered to determine the viability of using the Maryland Rule of Evidence, is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 24.

Rashadd Alexis' trial will likely begin later this year or early next year.

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net