Jaw-Dropping Delay in Rashaun Jones Murder Case After Jury Deadlock

The Rashaun Jones murder case took a dubious twist on Monday, 2 March, after a judge declared a mistrial. Accused of shooting former Miami Hurricanes teammate Bryan Pata in 2006, the decision came after the jurors were unable to come up with a unanimous verdict in the case.

The jury initially deliberated for an hour in the second day of deliberations. After reading a statement of the jurors and addressing attorneys, Florida 11th Circuit Judge Cristina Miranda told the jury to convene again to render a verdict. The consensus remained the same.

'At this point we are deadlocked with no one willing to move,' Miranda said.

According to a report by ESPN, there was one jury member that wanted Jones convicted. The jury member who revealed this requested anonymity.

'The state case was very weak, mostly circumstantial, and they did not meet the burden beyond reasonable doubt,' the juror explained.

As a result of Monday's hearing, there is a chance that a new jury may be called. According to Florida law, a mistrial allows prosecutors to try the case with a new jury. The new trial also needs to happen within 90 days.

Pata Family Fighting On

Following the developments on Monday, the Pata family unsurprisingly was dismayed at the mistrial. However, the family vowed to continue pressing the case, adding that it would have been something Bryan would have wanted.

'It's frustrating, really, for all of us, especially for our mom and for every single sibling and every single person that came out and supported us,' Edwin Pata, Bryan's brother, said in a report by the Associated Press. "I think the big thing for us is closure, just some kind of closure for us. We're going to remain steadfast. ... We've just got to press on,' he added.

Despite testimonies and evidence presented linking Jones to the killing of the late defensive lineman, former teammates, coaches and police officers gave their statements. That included the tension between Jones and Pata.

One of the clashes between the two football players was over a girl. But with Jones being the owner of a .38 calibre revolver, a firearm expert alleged that the 40-year-old could have possibly used this in the shooting of Pata.

University of Miami Instructor Claims Questioned

One person who identified Jones as the potential shooter was a former instructor at the University of Miami. Paul Conner told police that he saw someone walking away from the apartment where Pata was killed.

Conner informed authorities the following day after learning about the incident on the news. He shared his recollection of seeing someone walking out of the apartment complex. Conner went on to describe what he saw to a forensic artist to generate a sketch.

It was seven months later when Conner positively identified Jones from a photo lineup. However, there were questions raised about the credibility of the former University of Miami instructor.

Defence attorney Christian Maroni argued that the fact that Conner's vision was impaired raises questions about what he actually saw. Conner said that he was unsure if he had his glasses on when he saw the man at the apartment complex.

Also, Conner's testimony did not align with the statement given by Bruce Johnson, a friend and teammate of Pata. Conner described the man he saw as having white teeth. Johnson, on the other hand, stated that Jones had teeth with some discolouration.

Aside from teeth, there were the testimonies of Pata's friends. From those who were interviewed, only two claimed that Jones owned a gun.

The legal team of Pata needs to come up with more solid evidence to prove Jones was really responsible for Bryan Pata's killing. The lawyers of Jones are aware of this and appear to be ready for whatever may come.