No Evidence Ties Ex-Football Player to Teammate’s Murder: Defense
The defense for former University of Miami football player Rashaun Jones slammed the state for its lack of evidence tying Jones to the murder of his teammate, Bryan Pata. Jones’ attorney believes there were inconsistencies in witness testimony. Pata was fatally shot in the head near his apartment.
Jurors deadlock, judge declares mistrial in Miami football murder case
MIAMI — A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the murder trial of former Miami Hurricanes player Rashaun Jones, accused of the shooting of teammate Bryan Pata in 2006.
About an hour after the six jurors began their second day of deliberations, Florida 11th Circuit Judge Cristina Miranda came into the courtroom to address the attorneys, reading a statement from the jurors: “At this point we are deadlocked with no one willing to move.” Miranda instructed them to keep trying, but after about another hour, they again said they could not render a verdict.
Major twist as trial for suspect in killing of UM football player Bryan Pata was set to begin
As opening statements were set to begin Tuesday, defense attorney Christian Maroni argued that investigators failed to fully explore alternative suspects and possible gang involvement in the murder. NBC6’s Briana Nespral reports.
Attorneys make closing arguments in UM football player murder trial
MIAMI — Closing arguments came in on Wednesday, on day five of the trial of ex-University of Miami football player Rashaun Jones.
That case will soon be in the hands of the jury after jurors heard testimony today about Jones’s cell phone records and what the medical examiner found inside the body of teammate Bryan Pata.
Jones’ defense team was giving closing arguments Wednesday evening after prosecutors made theirs; prosecutors will then have a chance for a rebuttal.