What you should know
- The verdict was read Tuesday afternoon against Ronald Washington, a childhood friend, and Karl Jordan Jr., the DJ’s godson.
- Defense attorneys had asked Thursday for a mistrial in the case against the two men accused of the murder, saying prosecutors improperly steered a witness into testifying that a defendant confessed to her decades ago that he had killed the Run star. -DMC and told him that “people get what they deserve.”
- Prosecutors and a witness say Jordan shot the rap star while Washington stood at the door brandishing a gun. According to the government, the attack was sparked by resentment over a drug deal.
NEW YORK — A jury found two men accused of the 2002 murder of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay guilty on all charges.
The verdict was read Tuesday afternoon against Ronald Washington, a childhood friend, and Karl Jordan Jr., the DJ’s godson.
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The verdict is in: Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington have been found guilty on all counts for the murder of Jam Master Jay.
— US Attorney EDNY (@EDNYnews) February 27, 2024
Defense attorneys had asked Thursday for a mistrial in the case against the two men accused of the murder, saying prosecutors improperly steered a witness into testifying that a defendant confessed to her decades ago that he had killed the Run star. -DMC and told him that “people get what they deserve.”
U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ultimately denied a mistrial, in part because the witness had made similar prior statements that could have been addressed to jurors anyway. But the judge angrily told prosecutors that his questions to the witness had crossed the line.
“There was no need” for the questions, he said, raising his voice as the jurors stood outside the courtroom.
The heated issue threatened for about an hour to disrupt the long-awaited trial in one of the most infamous acts of violence in hip-hop history. Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was shot and killed in his recording studio on the night of October 30, 2002.
Washington’s ex-girlfriend, Daynia McDonald, testified Thursday that he called her to tell her Mizell was dead, shortly after Washington took her to the studio to meet his famous friend. Stunned, she asked Washington how she found out about the DJ’s death.
“He said, ‘Because I was there,’” she testified.
In a later conversation, she told the jury, she asked Washington if he had anything to do with the murder, “and he basically said yes.”
Then Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Misorek asked the questions that sparked the legal fireworks: “Did you say you killed Jam Master Jay?” and “Did he say people get what they deserve?”
McDonald said yes to both.
After the jurors left the courtroom, the judge protested to prosecutors about the questions. One of Washington’s lawyers, Susan Kellman, requested a mistrial, saying prosecutors had planted “a seed of prejudice” that could not be uprooted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Artie McConnell said the government was only trying to keep McDonald’s answers squarely about Mizell’s murder and make sure she didn’t venture into other off-limits topics. Prosecutors had “the best of intentions,” he said.
“To me, your logic does not follow,” the judge said.
After a lengthy discussion, DeArcy Hall decided the trial could continue, with one warning: He told jurors to ignore the two questions and their answers.
Misorek was allowed to ask if Washington “said anything else about the murder of Jam Master Jay.”
“Um, he just said he killed him,” McDonald responded, and that response was allowed to stand.
Prosecutors and a witness say Jordan shot the rap star while Washington stood at the door brandishing a gun. According to the government, the attack was sparked by resentment over a drug deal.
Run-DMC was known for its anti-drug messages in songs and even in a public service announcement. But prosecutors and another witness have said Mizell turned to cocaine trafficking for money when the groundbreaking 1980s rap group’s career stabilized.
Lawyers for Jordan, 40, have said he was at his then-girlfriend’s house when Mizell was shot. Lawyers for Washington, 59, have said the government is presenting an improvised case against a man who was financially dependent on Jay, not attacking him.
Washington’s attorney pressed McDonald Thursday about gaps between his testimony and a signed statement he gave to police in 2002.
She testified that she visited Mizell’s studio for a couple of minutes as night fell, while the statement described her visit to the studio in the afternoon. Among other differences, he also described eating some snacks in the studio until about 1:45 p.m. and said Washington then got through with a couple of mid-afternoon phone calls before calling with the news of the rap legend’s death. .
McDonald said “there was a lot going on” and she was nervous when speaking to police. She said she was testifying sincerely.
“This has been a very important event in my life,” he said.
2024-02-27 21:22:23
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