Seven days and 19 jury notes later, there was the slightest bit of progress Monday in the murder trial of a man accused of killing a Kentucky teacher on the Catholic University campus in Northeast D.C.
The jury says they have reached a verdict, but on just one of the five counts in the case. They remain deadlocked on the other four charges, including murder.
Jaime Macedo is accused of killing 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson in 2023. The jury is trying to decide if Macedo held Emerson at gunpoint for more than 30 minutes on the morning of July 5, 2023, stealing $300 from him before Emerson — in an apparent effort to help himself — tackled Macedo, and while the two struggled, Emerson was shot once in the abdomen.
Jurors have struggled to find consensus and have let the judge know on multiple occasions. The judge has instructed them to keep deliberating.
At no time have they said they were hopelessly deadlocked. Instead, they have repeatedly said they cannot reach a conclusion and have asked for guidance from the judge.
On Monday, the jury said they had reached a verdict on Count 5 against Macedo, unlawful possession of a firearm by a person with a prior conviction. We do not know what that verdict is.
Instead, the judge read the jury a new instruction and told them to keep working.
Prosecutors drove home several points during the trial, one being that Emerson was supposed to be at a conference at the Library of Congress that morning, not spending 30 minutes with Macedo.
Prosecutors said Emerson knew from the minute he encountered Macedo at the Brookland Metro station that Macedo had a gun.
But Macedo, who took the stand in his own defense, said it was all a misunderstanding. He says Emerson was trying to help him that day and sent him $300 via a payment app after hearing his story. Macedo testified it only came to a violent end when Emerson misunderstood what was going on and tackled him. Macedo said the gun, which was hidden in his pants, went off accidentally.
In a note sent last week, the jury wanted to know if Macedo could demonstrate one more time where he had the gun tucked in his pants that day. The judge denied that request, telling them they would have to rely on their memory.
It is unusual in this courthouse for a jury to deliberate a case for eight days.
The counts the jury is having trouble with are attempted robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and first-degree murder.
The jury will be back Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/3yEXxdQ
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