Local

Judge decides two suspects in 13-year-old Prince Holland’s murder will face two juries

Suspects in murder of 13-year-old Prince Holland to be tried together

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The two men charged in the murder of a 13-year-old Jacksonville boy will face trial by two separate juries.

The judge made the decision in a court hearing Thursday, more than a month after one of the suspects asked to be tried separately.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

On December 3rd of 2022, 13-year-old Prince Holland was leaving football practice when he was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting. One of his coaches and an 8-year-old were also left injured.

Marcel Johnson, 25, and Kentrevious Garard, 27, were later arrested and charged with 1st degree murder.

Back in February, we reported that Garard’s attorney, Nicole Jamieson, argued it wouldn’t be fair to try the two men together, as the state plans to introduce statements made by Johnson to homicide detectives, which were allegedly false. The state then offered to instead try them both together, but with separate juries.

“Let me make this as clear as I possibly can,” said Judge Jeb Branham. “Both defendants are set for trial on June 9th, 2025. We have a number of evidentiary issues that we have to work through before that trial gets here. Since the state has agreed that severance is appropriate, each defendant will have their own jury no matter what.”

When we spoke with Jamieson, she said there will be two separate juries but the Judge has not yet decided if the actual trials will be conducted at the same time in one courtroom, or on entirely separate dates.

As of right now, jury selection for both suspects is set for June 9th.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.

0
Comments on this article
0

mobile apps

Everything you love about wokv.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!