BOSTON, May 3, 2013—A friend of two brothers charged with the murder of 17-year-old Andre Matthew was held on high bail today at his arraignment for allegedly trying to stymie the investigation into that 2012 homicide, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

DANIEL WILKINS-MURPHY, 19, of Roxbury was arraigned this afternoon in Suffolk Superior Court following his indictment yesterday for perjury and misleading an investigator. Boston Police arrested him on a warrant at his home this morning.

“If you have information on a homicide and need help or protection, we’ll go to the wall for you,” Conley said. “Our use of the Witness Protection Fund leads the Commonwealth. But if you lie to the grand jury and try to thwart justice, there are going to be consequences. This is serious, serious business.”

Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum of the DA’s Homicide Unit recommended that Wilkins-Murphy be held on $30,000 cash bail. Judge Michael Coyne imposed $10,000.

Polumbaum told the court that Wilkins-Murphy was with JAMEEL CLARK (D.O.B. 2/4/93) and RASHAWN CLARK (D.O.B. 12/19/94), both of Roxbury, “in the time surrounding the homicide” of Andre Matthew, who was gunned down on Bower Street on the afternoon of Oct. 1, 2012.

Cell tower records, video surveillance, and witness statements led to the Clark brothers’ indictment for first-degree murder late last year. It also documents Wilkins-Murphy’s close association with them before and after the homicide, though Wilkins-Murphy allegedly lied about it to Boston Police homicide detectives.

When subpoenaed to the Suffolk County Grand Jury and provided with counsel, Wilkins-Murphy was confronted with surveillance images from a fast food restaurant showing him with the brothers “minutes before” Matthew was slain, Polumbaum said. He allegedly perjured himself by testifying that he recognized himself in the footage but had “never seen” Rashawn Clark before. As part of the investigation, Suffolk prosecutors obtained the Rashawn Clark’s cell phone records, which allegedly show frequent contact with Wilkins-Murphy.

Wilkins-Murphy is represented by attorney Thomas Brant. He will return to court on June 7.

–30–

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.