The untimely death of hip-hop icon Jam Master Jay more than two decades ago left a void in the music industry, but now, justice seems within reach as the alleged perpetrators are set to face trial. According to TMZ, the murder trial for the Run-DMC DJ and record producer is scheduled to begin on January 29. Jury selection, involving over 500 candidates, commenced last week and is expected to be finalized by January 22.
In 2020, Karl Jordan Jr. (39) and Ronald Washington (59) were indicted for the New York City shooting
that claimed the life of the 37-year-old legend inside a Queens recording studio. The upcoming trial will focus on their defense and last year, Jay Bryant (49) became the third person charged in the case, with his trial likely taking place in 2025.Due to the time gap between the indictments, the proceedings may feature a dual jury, an unusual move as federal prosecutors seek to streamline the case against all three defendants. Court documents reveal a motion submitted by the government advocating for a two-jury trial.
Bryant’s lawyer, César de Castro,
asserted that his client will plead not guilty, stating, “Securing an indictment in a secret grand jury, applying an extremely low burden of proof, is one thing. Proving it at trial is another matter.” Jordan and Washington have also pleaded not guilty, though a judge dismissed a motion to drop their charges last year.The allegations against the trio involve allegedly entering Jam Master Jay’s studio, fleeing after the fatal shooting, with Jordan firing two shots at close range, including the one that took the victim’s life. Prosecutors allege that Bryant was seen entering the building before the shooting, leaving behind an article of clothing at the crime scene containing his DNA.
According to ABC7, investigations revealed that the motive behind the slaying was a drug deal gone wrong. “The defendants allegedly carried out the cold-blooded murder of Jason Mizell, a brazen act that has finally caught up with them thanks to the dedicated detectives, agents, and prosecutors who never gave up on this case,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “The charges announced today begin to provide a measure of justice to the family and friends of the victim and make clear that the rule of law will be upheld, whether that takes days, months or decades.”
As the trial approaches, then hip-hop community awaits the resolution of this longstanding case, hoping that justice will be served for the tragic loss of Jam Master Jay.
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