MARTINEZ – Jurors were unable to achieve a verdict within the recent trial of a person accused of killing his ex-girlfriend's cousin after breaking into her El Sobrante apartment.
Pierre Jackson, 26, was charged with murdering 25-year-old Dejante Kennedy and attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend in the identical incident. Jackson allegedly broke into the lady's apartment on Appian Way in El Sobrante and shot Kennedy when he confronted Jackson after the victims were woke up by the break-in.
Contra Costa prosecutors declined to comment on the consequence of the case. Jurors declared themselves hopelessly deadlocked in late August, and Judge Charles “Ben” Burch declared the trial void, attorneys and court records show.
Darryl Stallworth, a lawyer representing Jackson, said the incident was the results of “a mixture of love and anger and, I believe, uncontrollable rage” and he was not surprised the jury couldn’t reach a verdict. He said every part showed the jury had difficulty deciding whether the case was first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.
“Given these facts and what happened, it’s a very difficult area of law,” Stallworth said.
The public prosecutor's office is outwardly preparing to retry the case, but a brand new hearing date has not yet been set.
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