Jackson Jambalaya

Andre Kennedy filed a motion to reduce his bond in Hinds County Circuit Court yesterday.  Kennedy and his accomplice Edwin "Guttalife" Robinson (allegedly) kidnapped and robbed a doctor from his Ridgewood home early on a Saturday morning, May 16, 2015.  Robinson did not survive his life of crime as the victim managed to get his hands on a pistol and kill him.

The case is assigned to Judge Jeff Weill.  Public Defender Chris Routh filed the motion on behalf of Kennedy.  A Hinds County grand jury indicted Kennedy in February for one count of armed robbery, one count of attempted kidnapping, and one count of house burglary.   Bond was set at $150,000.

 Routh argued that Kennedy is indigent and is still in jail because he is unable to post bond.  He states that bail is to ensure a defendant appears at trial and is not to serve as a punishment.  Kennedy has no prior felony history and was employed as a prison guard at MDOC prior to this incident.  He also served in the Mississippi Army National Guard.

Recap of case: 

 A doctor was leaving home  to compete in a shooting competition held at Magnolia Pistol Range in Byram at approximately 7:45 AM today. He made several trips from the house to his truck carrying what he needed for the competition. Unknown to him, two black males were cruising Ridgewood Road looking for someone to rob. They happened upon him walking to his truck near the intersection of Ridgewood and Eastover roads.  They took him captive at gunpoint and forced him drive to an ATM and withdraw a large amount of money.  They also mentioned some intentions concerning his wife who was back at home.  Intentions that were not exactly nice in nature.

 They stopped at Eastover and Pinewood.  They told him to get out of the vehicle.  The good Doc managed to grab a pistol as he exited the truck and began firing.  He shot and killed an Edwin Robinson of Cooper Road.  One person at the scene  said "he shot the shit out of him".  The other suspect managed to run away and is currently at-large. It should be noted that there are woods on one side of the road. The suspect apparently had parked a tan SUV over at Northminister Baptist Church.  He ran to the church and left in the SUV. It did not have a license plate.


Kingfish note: While Mr. Routh argues his client has been in jail for far too long because he can't post bail, it should also be noted that Mr. Routh filed a motion for continuance.  The trial is set for October 10, 2016. Mr. Routh stated in his motion that he will be at a Continuing Legal Education Seminar from September 5 to October 1.  He states he won't be able to prepare for trial nor meet any of the legal deadlines.  No other public defenders can handle the case.  The prosecution agreed to the continuance.  Of course, if Mr. Kennedy went to trial on October 10, his case could be adjudicated and he could either go to prison or be set free.