On Dec. 15, parties returned to the courtroom to address a jury note that had been submitted by the jury.
Jermaine Harris, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of 38-year-old Lamar Walters on the 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE, on Jan. 6, 2020.
The note read, “If we cannot come to an unanimous decision on first-degree murder, can we consider the other charges?”
Defense attorney, Jonathan S. Zucker stipulated, in the jury instructions, that the first-degree murder charge must be dismissed before the jury can consider second-degree murder.
In spite of the jury’s apparent inability to decide on the first-degree murder accusation, the prosecution emphasized that the jury could still take into account the two counts of armed assault with the intent to kill as well as the possession of a firearm during a violent crime.
The jury is scheduled to continue deliberations on Dec. 19.
