CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – On the shut of a four-day trial, Rasheem Lewis and Timothy Ogburn have been discovered not responsible of premeditated first-degree homicide within the 2018 demise of 21-year-old Julian Torres,
It took the jury a bit of underneath 5 hours Thursday afternoon to return with the decision for each of the accused.
Jury’s issues
The morning began with debate about what needs to be included within the jury’s directions, or the rules utilized by jurors throughout deliberations.
Regardless of being the state’s key witness to Torres’ demise, it was up for the jury to think about whether or not Jamonte Pinkston was an confederate, as he was within the automotive with Lewis and Ogburn the night time Torres was shot.
If the jury have been to think about him an confederate, his testimony would have wanted corroborating testimony to have been sufficient for a conviction.
It stays unclear how the jury determined to think about Pinkston’s function within the taking pictures, and his testimony.
“Within the proof that we’ve heard, is there something indicating that Jamonte Pinkston was an confederate? He was with these people, he was apparently there with them loads, he knew that Mr. Ogburn had a firearm,” prosecutor Chris Dotson mentioned to Decide William R. Goodman III earlier than the jury was introduced in.
On the witness stand Wednesday, Pinkston testified that Ogburn killed Torres, however he has modified his story greater than as soon as about what he noticed and heard the night time of the taking pictures.
This contains some discrepancies on the kind of gun.
On Wednesday, an skilled in firearms evaluation from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation testified that the 9 mm shell casings found on the scene might have come from an extended gun. Nonetheless, because the gun used was not recovered, the skilled mentioned the casings additionally might have come from a pistol.
Closing arguments
In closing arguments, the state leaned into the idea that there was premeditation on this case as a result of Lewis, the driving force of the automotive, turned off the headlights earlier than coming to the intersection the place Torres was shot.
He then held up a set of photographs exhibiting Ogburn holding a gun. On Wednesday, Pinkston recognized the photograph as Ogburn on the identical location the place he lived, which was close to the scene of the taking pictures, and it was allegedly taken about 20 hours earlier than the taking pictures on Could 19.
“I’ve seen (Ogburn) shoot a gun; I don’t know if it’s that particular one,” Pinkston testified Wednesday.
“Can you discover (Lewis and Ogburn) responsible primarily based on the testimony of 1 one who was an confederate?” Smith requested the jury Thursday. “It’s all manufactured. It’s not natural in any respect.”
In a follow-up closing comment, Lewis’ legal professional Gordon Rahn mentioned Smith did a fantastic job of expressing all of his issues.
“This can be a tragedy that shouldn’t have occurred, however we don’t have to make it worse,” Rahm mentioned earlier than asking the jury to return with a verdict of not responsible.
Sufferer’s household heartbroken by testimony
Whereas the jury was deliberating, a lot of Torres’ household waited within the corridor.
Nadia Gold, who’s Torres’ aunt, described the trial course of as very arduous.
“I knew he acquired shot, however I didn’t know the precise particulars. That was heartbreaking,” Gold informed Clarksville Now.
Gold mentioned she tries to maintain the great recollections of Torres alive. Along with a tattoo on her left forearm for Torres of a dreamcatcher with “Juju” within the center, her favourite recollections are his bear hugs.
Two weeks earlier than he was killed, Gold picked up Torres’ girlfriend, who was anticipating a toddler with Torres, and shocked her with a procuring spree for child provides.
“After we got here again to the home, he was serving to her unload every thing that I had purchased, and she or he informed him, ‘Look, your auntie purchased this.’ And he came visiting, as a result of he would at all times give me these huge ol’ bear hugs, and he kissed me on the brow and mentioned, ‘Thanks auntie, you’re wonderful,’” Gold mentioned.
Torres’ household declined to remark following the announcement of the decision.
Each Lewis and Ogburn have upcoming circumstances which are nonetheless working their approach by the court docket system.
Lewis has a listening to on Sept. 10 for drug fees, and Ogburn is about for an additional homicide trial within the coming months for the demise of 36-year-old Tanesha Hardy, which occurred simply 4 days after the demise of Torres.
Blaine Kellar contributed to this report.
