By ARTESIA DAVIS, Guardian Senior Reporter, artesia@nasguard.com

Murder accused Michael Simmons' grandmother changed the locks to her home after she saw him stab his girlfriend, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

Simmons, 23, is on trial for the March 4, 2007 murder of Trevonne McKinney, with whom he had a daughter, Nalla. McKinney was the daughter of media personality Steve McKinney.

The accused man's grandmother, Gwendolyn Brown, told the court that McKinney came to the Wilson Tract home with the baby shortly after Simmons invited her over by telephone.

According to Brown, Simmons, whom she referred to as "Kaz", took McKinney in the room, where they stayed for "a little while."

Brown said, "I don't know what happened in the room but she walked out and she told him, 'you have a problem. I can't put my problem with your problem 'cause that'll be too much problems for me. Now pass me my keys'."

Both McKinney and Simmons went outside, Brown said. She overheard McKinney, who was holding Nalla, say, "Kaz, don't jook me with that knife."

Brown said she went to a window and told Simmons to give McKinney her keys and let her leave.

She recalled, "He said, 'the keys in the car'. She had to walk around him. That's when he lick her down and start to jook her."

Brown, who walks with a cane, said she screamed and a crowd gathered. She said a man pulled Simmons off McKinney. But Simmons fled in McKinney's sport utility vehicle (Toyota RAV4), which was recovered in bushes off Cowpen Road, according to DC 1212 Sherman. Brown said her son, Carlos, wrapped McKinney in towels and took her to hospital.

Brown said Simmons came to her window later that night and she advised him to surrender to police. She said Simmons told her that he needed to change his clothing first. She recalled telling him, "How you ga get it. I can't open the door. I scared of you now."

The case continues before Acting Justice Elliot Lockhart. Stephanie Pintard is the prosecutor. Simmons is represented by Dwayne Hanna.