Clothing Linked to Suspects in Denny Case : Courts: A detective says a bloody shirt recovered from defendant’s home is the one worn in videotaped assaults.

A bloodstained T-shirt recovered from the home of Damian Monroe (Football) Williams, a defendant in the attempted murder of Reginald O. Denny, is identical to one Williams is seen wearing on a videotape made of the attack, a Los Angeles police detective testified Thursday.

The white shirt was found in a pile of dirty laundry at Williams’ home when he was arrested.

Williams, 19, Antoine Eugene Miller, 20, and Henry Keith Watson, 29, are charged with attempted murder, mayhem, torture and robbery in the brutal beating of Denny, who doctors say nearly died of his injuries.

The trio also face assorted felony charges in connection with attacks on other motorists at Florence and Normandie avenues, one of the flash points during the Los Angeles riots.

Using a dizzying videotape montage of taunts, assaults and robberies of motorists passing through the intersection, Detective Arthur Daedelow identified all three men at various points in the melee.

Though the scene was chaotic and the freeze frames sometimes blurry, Daedelow testified at a preliminary hearing that he could pick out the three defendants by distinctive clothing, body type and walk, as well as from views of their faces.

“If you watch the videotape and look at these defendants, there’s no doubt these defendants committed the crimes,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Lawrence C. Morrison said outside the courtroom.

At one point in the video, Daedelow noted that a man he said was Williams was wearing a white T-shirt with a similar marking as the one found at Williams’ house. Prosecutors have not said whose blood is on the shirt.

Daedelow testified that Williams also spray-painted the bloody, limp body of Fidel Lopez as he lay in the street after being assaulted. The detective said he could identify the defendant because he recognized Williams’ black shoes with white trim.

The detective said he could often recognize Williams on the videotape by the way he walked. “I would describe it as a loose, carefree-type walk with large strides,” Daedelow said.

Daedelow also identified Miller and Watson by their clothing. A burgundy shirt belonging to Miller was presented as evidence. Daedelow said he could pick out Watson by his shirt, which said “Hookers Bar & Grill.”

Los Angeles Municipal Judge Larry Paul Fidler is determining if enough evidence exists to proceed to a trial. The defendants have pleaded not guilty and are expected to challenge the identifications during cross-examination today.

The major issue left to resolve is the admissibility of a taped statement by Williams. Prosecutors characterize the statement as a confession and defense attorneys refer to it as a statement from a material witness who had been promised leniency.

Williams’ attorney, Dennis Palmieri, has asked that the statement be played in closed court. Fidler will rule on that request after listening to the tape. News organizations, including The Times, have asked for a hearing to challenge any ruling that would exclude the public.

Fidler said his preference was for an open proceeding if possible. Portions of the statement have been published in The Times.

“I was throwing rocks,” Williams says on the tape. “I was throwing rocks like Darryl Strawberry.”

Williams denies attacking other motorists, but admits on the tape that he participated in the brutal beating of Denny. “The only person I (expletive) with is Mr. Denny.”

Palmieri contends that the statement was illegally obtained without properly warning Williams of his rights and after a detective had promised him leniency. The detective denies making any promises.

Defense attorneys disputed testimony of a police gang expert who said Williams and Miller are known gang members. If prosecutors can prove that the assaults were gang-related, the defendants could receive longer sentences.