It's a pitiful state of affairs when cops are locked up and killers are set free but such has been taking place in the courtroom of Hinds County Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten. A jury convicted T'Quaris Jones of murder recently but remains free after Judge Wooten threw out the verdict.
JPD arrested T'Quaris Jones on April 30, 2018 for murder in the shooting death of his cousin. Jones allegedly shot his cousin 20 times with an AR-15. A Jackson Municipal Court Judge denied bond for Jones but Circuit Judge Tomie Green lowered it to $20,000. A grand jury indicted him for first degree murder in May 2019. Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten refused to increase his bond even after prosecutors asked her to do so. She also denied their request to require him to wear an ankle monitor.
Jones apparently could not stay out of trouble despite his morbidly good fortune. T-Q got into a shootout at Sykes Manor Apartments in March. His father actually delivered the Glock to JPD headquarters. A police report states:
Mr. Jones stated that the black male exited the Charger and stated "What you doing out here, you shot my cousin". Mr. Jones stated that he killed black male, Justin Harper in April of 2018. Mr. Jones stated that the black male began to fire several shots at him. Mr. Jones stated that he took cover on the passenger side of his vehicle and returned fire from his Glock 17. Mr. Jones stated while returning fire, another unknown black male approached him from behind and began to fire shots at him. Mr. Jones stated that he was struck in the right ankle. Mr. Jones stated that it was at this time he ran to his house at 3318 Rickay Drive. Mr. Jones stated that he was taken to the hospital by private vehicle. Mr. Jones stated that he did not recognize either suspect. When asked where his gun was at, he stated that he had given it to his friend Shawn Dixon, black male.
Jones claimed self-defense. Judge Green's original bond order stated he could not possess firearms. Judge Wooten said the order expired so no violation occurred. Since there were no conditions for Jones to violate, the south Jackson judge allowed him to remain free.
Years passed and Jones finally went to trial in January. The jury found Jones guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison. However, Judge Wooten had other ideas.
Jones filed a motion for judgement notwithstanding the verdict. Judge Wooten granted the motion on March 6 but did not file the order until yesterday. Judge Wooten justified her ruling:
The Court held "the State failed to investigate the Defendant's defense and failed to put on evidence to the contrary during the trial of this case. The jury did not receive evidence on an element that the State had the burden or proving beyond a reasonable doubt."
Judge Wooten said Jones should get a new trial. The defendant remains free on bond.
Earlier Posts
Catch & release: murder edition
What does it take to get locked up in Hinds County?
$20,000 bond for capital murder?
28 comments:
Your honor, motion to fix.
No wonder, No wonder
How does this not get overturned on appeal and remanded to the judge (hopefully with disparaging language)?
The order, the judge signed, contains no case law or basis for the Order. This appears corrupt.
Typical, predictable pathway for homicide cases in Hinds County Circuit Court-
I prefer to live in an area with judges that actually punish criminals therefore, I moved outside of Jackson.
But to each their own.
This is the will of the people.
He shot his victim 17 times--Surely this establishes self defense.
You're already doomed Hinds county so no need to stop now!👍
Judge Wooten is a Democrat. That is ALL you need to know.
Yet another reason to avoid anything in Jackson.
Far to often LEO's get hyper focused on "getting an arrest" and they fail to properly investigate. Arrest somebody and case is closed. I actually agree with this ruling. The Defendant can't investigate his claim of self defense. The police have a duty to seek the truth of what happened. Read the police report.. He was getting shot at by two people.. How is shooting back not self defense?
better hurry up and put up a fence
There is a cancer growing within the criminal system and the criminal justice system. It is spreading daily, and it is terminal.
Jackson voters - you are getting what you deserve and what you voter for.
Are you happy with this?
And if you’re a white male and have the misfortune of being accosted by this guy, any self-defense idea you had is worthless with these same judges.
"A jury convicted T'Quaris Jones of murder recently but remains free after Judge Wooten threw out the verdict." So why did they waste everyone's time and effort empaneling a jury if she decided this was going to be a bench trial?
Based on JJ posts today: I could live in Hinds Co. where the PD and courts allow thugs and murderers to roam around hurting people, or I could live in Rankin County where the LEOs are allowed to roam around hurting. Quite the quandary.
I'm confused. Was this a post-verdict motion for JNOV? Did the defense not move for JNOV at the close of the state's case or at least some point before it was submitted to the jury? If the court found that the state failed to introduce evidence on an element of the crime and that the state failed to meet its burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, wouldn't ordering a new trial violate double jeopardy? Why would the court grant a new trial to allow the defense to call witnesses on an element on which the state has the burden?
Sounds like shoddy prosecution work
So this Judge is saying that she made a mistake when she found that the state HAD put on a prima facie case at the conclusion of the state's case. And if the Defendant argued self-defense, the jury didn't buy it.
As Mattie asked the outlaw killer Ned Pepper, "do you need a good lawyer?" Ned Pepper replied, "I need a good judge."
11:10 You've missed a fundamental difference: Rankin County is tough on criminals. Even though wrong in their tactics, the public at large is safe. On the other hand, Hinds County, though wrong in their tactics, is tough on the public by being easy on the criminals.
Both tactics need to be corrected, but I can tell you the place I'd prefer to live. Easy decision.
I don't practice criminal law, but does the law actually require the State to carry the burden of proof to disprove a claim of self-defense? I would think the defendant would initially bear the burden of proof of that affirmative defense, which may then shift to the prosecution.
If so, did Wooten apply the same legal standard in the Anthony Fox trial?
And to the "motion to fix" guy, please give it a rest.
For those of us that live outside of Hinds County this is just more for us to talk about. When I say talk I really mean this is what we laugh and joke about when we hear this stuff. Something else about us folks that don't live in Hinds County is we don't care what they do to each other. Most common thing I hear is the more they eliminate the better off society is.
10:08, don't forget to electrify the fence!
"Based on JJ posts today: I could live in Hinds Co. where the PD and courts allow thugs and murderers to roam around hurting people, or I could live in Rankin County where the LEOs are allowed to roam around hurting."
And some wonder why housing prices continue to rise in Madison County.....
@1:46PM, I trust you and your buddies are knocking on wood while laughing about what happens right down the road.
I have appeared before Judge Wooten many times. While she tries hard to do what is right, she is not very smart. Not a good thing for a judge.
When you lie on the application but they give you the damn job anyways and now you gotta make sh*t up to make people think you know what you are doing.
I actually agree with the Judge’s decision. The detective was obviously lying about the search for the two guns and failed to question eyewitnesses to the gunfight. As a former prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer have seen officers pursue convictions regardless of guilt. Justice demanded a JNOV Order in this case.
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