A Pensacola man was acquitted of his own father’s murder, despite admitting to shooting him in an interview with law enforcement investigators.
Jaylen Prude was charged with second-degree murder with a firearm after air conditioning repair technicians discovered the body of his father, Aries Prude, in a pool of blood in his own home. Prude later admitted to shooting his father because he was “stressed out.”
After two days of testimony, a panel of jurors found Prude not guilty of second-degree murder June 4
“I think it was a just and proper verdict based on the lack of evidence that the state had,” Prude’s attorney Bonnie Staples told the News Journal.
During the trial, the key piece of evidence presented by the state was a video between Prude and law enforcement. In the video shown to the jury, Lt. Jason Barnes asked Prude to “tell us what happened, son. Now is the time to be honest.”
“I just shot him,” Prude replied.
Despite Assistant State Attorney Julie Greenberg hammering the fact Prude admitted in a recorded interview to shooting his father and noting that the firearm used in the shooting had Prude’s DNA on it, the jury seemingly found reasonable doubt in the evidence.
Some of it may have stemmed from the testimony of Aries Prude’s girlfriend, Angelisa Stallworth, who testified that there seemed to be no ill will between Jaylen and Aries.
Stallworth, who testified she and Aries planned to get married once his divorce was finalized, said during the trial that the father-son duo seemed to have a normal relationship free from any fights or arguments.
“(Stallworth) also testified that Jaylen’s demeanor was similar to Aries’—mild-mannered, no conflict,” Staples told the jury. “She never saw them argue, is what she testified to, and that they had a normal father-son relationship.
“That does not support Mr. Jaylen Prude shooting his father with a depraved mind,” she added. “It’s not consistent at all.”
Staples told the jury the firearm had DNA from both the father and son, possibly demonstrating a struggle for the gun. She also said her client’s fingerprints were not found on key parts of the firearm such as the magazine and shell casings.
“I don’t think the state gave a theory for how Aries’ DNA got on the gun,” Staples told the News Journal. “The state’s argument, from what I remember, ignored the fact that Aries’ DNA was on the gun, and ignored the fact that there was blood on the bottom of his feet.
“So, I don’t think the state’s theory of the case ever took into account those items of evidence,” she added.
Following the jury’s acquittal and spending two years in jail, Prude was released from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office custody.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola man who confessed to killing father acquitted of his murder
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
