Morgan Freeman 'had sexual relationship' with his step-granddaughter, claims man accused of murdering her
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Morgan Freeman had an "inappropriate" sexual relationship with his step-granddaughter E'Dena Hines, claims the man accused of murdering her.
The actor, 80, and Hines, 33, both previously dismissed rumours of a romantic relationship.
On Friday in court, Lamar Davenport's lawyer Beth Unger alleged Hines "disclosed to … Davenport and others that her grandfather engaged in a sexually inappropriate relationship with her,” the New York Daily News and New York Post report.
The court heard that on July 3, 2015, about six weeks before she was stabbed to death outside her apartment in New York, Hines texted Davenport to tell him that she was having issues with an "older man".
"I don’t ask him for advice," Hines wrote. "He was calling to ask me ... I blocked him for myself not for you because men who equal grandpa feelings don't need to be in my life at all."
(Image: Getty)
(Image: Getty)
While texting, Davenport wrote to his girlfriend that "when it comes to...your grandfather, there's a submissive love that will always be there."
Hollywood star Morgan was accompanied by E'Dena to the 2005 Golden Globes and worked with her on a number of films including the 2014 film 5 Flights Up.
The actor adopted E'Dena's mother, Deena Adair, when he was married to his first wife Jeanette Adair Bradshaw between 1967 and 1979.
Morgan and Hines both previously denied a romantic relationship had developed between them.
Freeman gave a statement to TMZ in 2012 that said: "The recent reports of any pending marriage or romantic relationship of me to anyone are defamatory fabrications from the tabloid media designed to sell papers.
(Image: Rex)
"What is even more alarming is that these fabrications are now being picked up by the legitimate press as well."
Hines concurred in her own statement: "These stories about me and my grandfather are not only untrue, they are also hurtful to me and my family."
Hines was 33 when she was stabbed to death in Washington Heights. Her then boyfriend, Lamar Davenport, was charged with her murder.
Witnesses have been speaking at the trial in Manhattan’s Supreme court in front of judge Ellen N. Biben where Lamar, 33, could face 25 years in prison if convicted.
Details of E’Dena’s murder reveal Lamar claims he was high on “PCP” (an illegal, Class A hallucinogenic drug that can affect mood and was developed as an anaesthetic), while witnesses say he was rambling religious “passages” when E’Dena was stabbed 25 times in the chest, back and arm on August 16, 2015.
(Image: Enterprise News)
The New York Post reports that one witness claims Lamar was shouting: "Get out, devils! I cast you out, devils! In the name of Jesus Christ, I cast you out!” while allegedly stabbing the actress.
While witness Jared Hamilton explained how he tried to pull Lamar off E’Dena during the fatal attack.
“I tried to separate them, I grabbed him by the back of his belt and I pulled him,” the witness told the court, but explained he lost grip and claims Lamar then launched at E’Dena again to continue stabbing her.
Xavier Gardere - who called emergency services while witnessing the stabbing - also testified in court.
“He mounted her. He was just basically sitting on her hips,” he said.
(Image: Instagram)
(Image: Facebook / Lamar Davenport)
“She was kicking. She was struggling at the beginning. Really not too much toward the end,” he added.
The accused - a rapper who has performed under the name Lyric in the past - is attempting to use insanity as a defines on the grounds his drug use caused him to kill.
Prosecutor Christopher Prevost argues the rapper is responsible, saying in court: "Whatever the effects of PCP were on his motivations to attack (Hines), his attack was purposeful, with the conscious objective to cause her death."
He added the intention to kill was clear: "From when and how he stopped — with the final thrust of the knife into her heart."
Morgan Freeman expressed deep sadness following the death of his step-granddaughter after her killing, saying she showed the promise of becoming a great actress before her life was brutally cut short.
“The world will never know her artistry and talent, and how much she had to offer,” he said.