A juror was dismissed on June 17 from the Blayze Jurien White murder trial as prosecutors concluded their portion of the case.
Here’s what we know:
Why was the juror removed? The juror, a man, told the court it would be difficult for him to remain on the panel because of a financial hardship.
Jury selection was on June 15 and potential jurors were told the trial would start on June 16 and last until June 18, and possible one day later.
The juror, who told the court he’s getting married soon, did not mention anything about jury service being a problem. The judge asked: If he stayed on the panel, could he focus on the case?
The juror, whose identity is not being released by the Star-Banner, said it would be “a big distraction.” He said he thought he could stay, but now realized it would be difficult.
State and defense lawyers agree that the juror should be excused. The judge agreed and the juror was told he could leave.
Were other jurors part of the discussion? No.
With the juror gone, what happened next? The trial continued with 13 jurors, six men and seven women. There is now only one alternate.
White’s charge? First-degree murder. If convicted, he will be sentenced to life in prison. The state is not seeking the death penalty.
About the case: White, 23, 19-year-old Zayshawn Lee Lamar Webb, and Frederick Bernard Lowe, 22, are accused of the June 23, 2024 shooting death of Derrick “DJ” Brown, 24.
Ocala Police Department officers said Brown was playing video games inside his residence, in the 2800 block of Northeast Eighth Terrace, when shots were fired into the living room, hitting the victim.
A neighbor rushed to the scene and gave Brown CPR. Brown was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The cases against the other co-defendants are pending.
The judge and lawyers: Retired Senior Judge Willard Pope is presiding. Assistant State Attorneys Rich Buxman and Amy Berndt are prosecuting. Defending White is Jonathan Mills.
Testimony on Day 2 of the trial
The day began with a Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime analyst from the firearms division testifying.
The official said he tested two .40-caliber handguns sent to the agency. He said both firearms could be converted to automatic, which means they could fire multiple rounds at a time.
Earlier testimony revealed that 18 shell casings were recovered outside the residence. The FDLE official said nine shell casings were fired from each weapon.
Cross-examined by the defense, the official said he could not tell from the tests who fired the shots.
An FDLE DNA expert testified that White’s DNA was recovered from one of the firearms that the state says were used in the shooting. A magazine was tested and it was positive for White’s DNA.
Cross-examined by the defense, the official said he could not determine when White’s DNA was placed on the gun, how it got there, or how long it had been there. Could someone’s DNA be detected on an item even if the person hadn’t touched the item? The answer was yes.
The jury also saw a recording of an interview that lead Detective Evan Thomas conducted with White.
In that session, White denied killing Brown. He said he heard about the incident, but didn’t know any details about the shooting.
He told the detective he rented the vehicle that prosecutors said was used during the shooting because co-defendant Lowe’s vehicle was in the shop at that time.
After repeated questioning from the detective, White finally said he had been inside another vehicle where one of the two weapons was found.
Told the firearm was by his feet, White said he did not know, according to the interview. White told the detective he has three phones and none of them were with him at the time of the homicide.
The detective told White he wasn’t telling the truth because one of the phones was used to call his grandmother. The detective also said the signal from the same phone was picked up from cell towers near the shooting site.
Hybrid gangs
A gang expert from the OPD testified about gang activities in Ocala/Marion County. He described the groups as hybrid gangs, with no rank structure.
Some gangs, he said, are friendly with each other. He said his job is to know all information about the gangs: the members’ names, children, dating partners, vehicles, places they frequent, their social media, and so on.
According to this expert, it’s common for gang members to make videos of their actions. That includes shootings or killings.
The state presented testimony indicating that the victim was loosely affiliated with one gang that was feuding with White’s gang. Prosecutors showed the jury that White had gang tattoos and the initials of a gang member on his body. That person, Lezarius Graham, 17, was killed a year before Brown was, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors believe Brown’s shooting was gang retaliation for Graham’s death.
The doctor who performed Brown’s autopsy told the court that the victim was shot twice in the head.
The state rests
Detective Thomas, with the assistance of prosecutors, detailed each trip taken in the rented vehicle. The list began with the vehicle being picked up in Zephyrhills the day before Brown’s death.
Through their investigation, law officers were able to pinpoint the details of each trip by examining the vehicle’s tracking device, cellphone records, surveillance videos and other data.
Officials said the vehicle was tracked at the shooting location, and a 911 call was made roughly two minutes after the vehicle drove away. Officials said the vehicle was speeding when it left the area.
Authorities recovered burned clothing they said was worn by White and at least one of the other co-defendants before the shooting.
After Thomas’ testimony, the state rested.
Defense attorney Mills asked for a judgment of acquittal for his client, a standard defense request at the end of the state’s case. Berndt said the state has proved its case. The judge denied the defense motion.
Now the defense is expected to present its case.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Defendant’s interview with detective shown as murder trial continues
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner | USA TODAY Network
