Prosecutors Challenge Psychologist in Hicks Hearing
Prosecutors asked a judge to exclude a defense psychologist's testimony in the Stand Your Ground hearing for Kevhani Hicks, who is charged in a fatal shooting.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Violence
Prosecutors urged a judge to exclude testimony from a defense psychologist at the Stand Your Ground hearing for Kevhani Hicks, 28, who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Demetrie Harris. Judge Jean Lody deferred her ruling on the testimony until Thursday.
Why it matters
The ruling will determine whether the defense's expert account of Hicks' mental state during the shooting can be considered in deciding her self-defense claim. Prosecutors argue the psychologist lacks a scientific method for his conclusions, which could shape how the case proceeds in Miami courts.
Hicks has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and has admitted to pulling the trigger, with the Stand Your Ground hearing ongoing before Judge Jean Lody. The judge deferred her ruling on the psychologist's testimony until Thursday, with the hearing set to continue that afternoon.
The players
Kevhani Hicks
Kevhani Hicks, also known as rapper Key Vani, is the 28-year-old defendant who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and is claiming self-defense.
Judge Jean Lody
Judge Jean Lody is the Miami-Dade judge presiding over the Stand Your Ground hearing and deciding whether the defense psychologist's testimony is admissible.
Dr. James Campbell
Dr. James Campbell is a clinical psychologist hired by the defense whose testimony about Hicks' perception during the shooting is being challenged by prosecutors.
The details
Dr. James Campbell, a clinical psychologist hired by the defense, testified that Hicks described seeing Harris reach for a pocket and pull out something black, a detail she did not tell detectives. Campbell attributed the discrepancy to how memories form in high-stress situations, basing his opinion on his evaluation of Hicks and videos of her interviews with detectives. Surveillance video of the October 9, 2023 networking event shows Hicks and Harris arguing and Harris walking away before she fired.
Timeline
October 9, 2023: Shooting of Demetrie Harris at a networking event.
September 2026: Stand Your Ground hearing began.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Prosecutors challenged the defense psychologist's testimony.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Judge Lody scheduled to rule on the testimony as the hearing continues.
Legal Context
Florida's Stand Your Ground law allows defendants to seek pretrial immunity from prosecution, and hearings like Hicks' often turn on whether expert testimony about perception under stress is admissible. The outcome will show how Miami courts apply evidentiary standards to such psychological opinions within that framework.
Residents of Miami may see more attention to Florida's Stand Your Ground law as its pretrial hearings produce rulings on expert testimony. The result could affect how self-defense claims are evaluated in future local shooting cases.
The takeaway
Evidence about a defendant's perception in the moments before a shooting can carry significant weight in self-defense hearings, which is why the admissibility of expert testimony matters. Readers following the case can watch for Thursday's ruling on whether that testimony is allowed.
What happens next
Judge Jean Lody is scheduled to rule on the admissibility of the defense psychologist's testimony when the hearing resumes Thursday afternoon.
Further reading
Follow more Miami violence coverage for context on how local cases like this one are handled.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Court TV.
