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Charges withdrawn against one of 2 suspects in Norfolk policeman's murder

Kareem Turner faced a second degree murder charge in the October 2010 death of Norfolk Police Officer Victor Decker in Va. Beach.

10:05 a.m. 3/17 UPDATE: The charges against Kareem Turner were withdrawn Monday. His mother says the last year, since his arrest, has been torture.

'Can you imagine that God gave him a second chance? Oh, Lord, thank you. I'm glad it's over,' she said.

The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office says it retains the right to bring them back if further evidence develops.

Spokeswoman Macie Pridgen told WVEC.com that Commonwealth's Attorney Colin Stolle stated on the record today that for over nine months, the defense team for (co-defendant) Raymond Perry withheld information that one of the witnesses in the Turner case had perjured himself.

'This information was eventually given to our office last week, and we did everything we could to determine the validity of it. Although we had other additional evidence, we concluded that without this untruthful witness we would not have sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction had we proceeded with a jury trial today,' she said.

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12/11 UPDATE:Bond was denied for Kareem Turner, despite testimony from his mother and brother that he would be able to work and have a place to stay if he was released.

Prosecutors argued against bond, citing two failure to appear charges in 2008. They said Turner had every reason not to show up to court in the future.

His trial is set for March 17, 2014.

VIRGINIA BEACH -- Attorneys agreed to hire an extra investigator and to make physical transcripts for accused cop killer Raymond Perry.

That was the outcome of a motions hearing Monday morning in Va. Beach.

Perry is accused of shooting Norfolk Police Officer Victor Decker in October 2010. Decker was off duty when he attended a fundraising event at Atlantis nightclub on Oceana Blvd. Decker's body was found beside his truck on October 26.

In a jailhouse interview, Perry told 13News he didn't kill Decker, that he didn't know him, had never met him, had never seen him before and wasn't at the club that night.

His trial on charges of capital murder, 1st degree, robbery and two counts of use of firearm is set for February 25, 2014.

The Commonwealth's Attorney office has said it will pursue the death penalty in the case.

A second man - 24-year-old Kareem Turner - is facing a 2nd degree murder charge.

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