Just as it’s about to begin, a trial for the 2006 murder of a former Miami Hurricanes player took a massive turn.
ESPN reporters found a key witness, said to be dead by Florida prosecutors, very much alive when they knocked on his door in Louisville, Kentucky in August.
Paul Conner lived in the apartment complex where defensive lineman Bryan Pata was allegedly shot in the head by teammate Rashaun Jones.
He called police shortly after the shooting occurred and said he heard a “pop” and saw someone “jogging” away near the scene.
On multiple occasions, he picked Jones out of a lineup.
As recently as July, prosecutors told Florida 11th Circuit Court Judge Cristina Miranda that Conner was dead.
Police relied on public database information that “seemed to indicate” Conner had passed, the state attorney’s office told ESPN, and had requested Louisville police check on him — at the same address where ESPN found him — but had no record of that occurring.
“Is there an impact of that on the case? I would have to say yes, potentially,” Ed Griffith, a spokesperson for the sate attorney’s office, told ESPN.
Jones has pleaded not guilty in the oft-delayed trial that’s set to begin on Oct. 6.
His attorney, understandably, it not thrilled with the latest development.
“I’m not shocked, but appalled,” Sara Alvarez told the outlet Thursday. “This is a bigger issue. This is just blatant lies. Bald-faced lies.
“It’s a shame and it’s disgusting that you would be willing to send a man to prison for the rest of his life without any evidence and then not be honest about what evidence exists and doesn’t exist.”
Conner, however, may not be the help he once was.
“I’m getting up in years,” the 81-year-old said. “My memory comes and goes. How long ago was this court case?”
Conner’s initial testimony at a March 2022 bond hearing saw Miranda grant Jones an $850,000 bail, though the former defensive back, now 40, has not paid the amount needed for release.
He has been in custody for four years.
Other testimony included allegations Pata and Jones fought, physically and verbally, and that Jones had a gun similar to the one that was likely used to kill Pata.
The investigation and case have been plagued by issues from the beginning: police didn’t arrest Jones for nine months despite being among the first suspects, a murder weapon has never been recovered, and there have been multiple court delays and attorney changes on both sides.
Source link
