FORT LAUDERDALE – Jurors in the trial of three gentlemen accused of murdering growing rap star XXXTentacion exterior a Florida bike dealership almost five many years back again failed to attain a verdict Tuesday, their fifth working day of deliberations.
The jury has deliberated for about 20 several hours because acquiring the scenario March 8. The panel of 12 will return to court Wednesday.
Jurors asked Tuesday to get a duplicate of text messages Michael Boatwright, the accused shooter, sent and obtained on June 18, 2018, the working day the rapper was killed all through a theft that netted $50,000. They experienced noticed a laptop projection of people messages and all those of Dedrick Williams, the accused ringleader, on Monday soon after inquiring to critique them.
The only other substantial dilemma they have asked was to see a transcript of Williams’ statement to detectives soon after his arrest. The lead detective testified about that assertion, but no transcript was entered as proof. They ended up explained to to count on their memory of what he claimed.
20-eight-12 months-previous Boatwright alongside with Williams, 26, and accused second gunman Trayvon Newsome, 24, are all charged with initially-degree murder and armed theft. They all deal with required lifetime sentences if convicted. Prosecutors did not seek out the loss of life penalty. While the 3 are remaining tried out collectively, jurors have to vote independently on each. It is possible they could convict just one or two and acquit or hold on the relaxation.
A fourth man, 26-calendar year-aged Robert Allen, pleaded responsible final calendar year to 2nd-diploma murder and testified in opposition to his previous pals.
XXXTentacion, whose actual title was Jahseh Onfroy, had just still left Riva Motorsports in suburban Fort Lauderdale with a pal when his BMW was blocked by an SUV that swerved in front.
Surveillance video clip confirmed that two masked gunmen emerged and confronted the 20-yr-previous rapper at the driver’s window, and 1 shot him consistently. They then grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag made up of $50,000 that XXXTentacion had just withdrawn from the bank, obtained again into the SUV and sped absent. The buddy was not harmed.
Allen testified that the guys set out that working day to dedicate robberies and went to the motorcycle store to buy Williams a mask. There they noticed the rapper and resolved to make him their target. Allen and Williams went inside of the store to verify it was him.
They then went back again to the SUV they experienced rented, waited for XXXTentacion to emerge and ambushed him, in accordance to testimony. Prosecutors say surveillance video clip from the dealership and cellphone facts ties the adult men to the scene. They also confirmed jurors movies the guys allegedly posted on social media that evening of themselves flashing fistfuls of $100 costs.
The men’s attorneys claimed Allen is lying and that their DNA was not discovered on the artist. Attorneys for some of the guys reported that whilst the money-flashing video clips were “stupid,” they really don’t demonstrate their customers ended up really associated in the shooting and theft.
The rapper was a platinum-offering increasing star who tackled concerns which includes prejudice and melancholy in his songs. He also drew criticism about poor behavior and several arrests, such as charges that he severely conquer and abused his girlfriend.
