The double-jury murder trial of Marcel Johnson and Kentrevious Garard is wrapping up as closing arguments have been presented, and deliberations are set to begin Wednesday evening.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After a three-day process of whittling down 150 potential jurors to form two distinct juries, followed by six days of testimony from 21 witnesses, the double-jury murder trial of Marcel Johnson and Kentrevious Garard is nearing its conclusion.
The defense and prosecution both rested their cases late on Tuesday night, and by Wednesday afternoon, the juries for each defendant commenced their deliberations on the verdicts.
Judge Jeb Branham had the jurors remain at the courthouse until around 8 p.m. on Tuesday to hear all legal arguments. After proceedings concluded for the day, the jurors were dismissed, while the legal teams remained to go over jury instructions with the judge.
On Wednesday morning, Branham began court by presenting those instructions to the 24 jurors.
Although both men face trial at the same time and are accused of first-degree murder, each has his own legal team and jury.
The trial arises from an incident on December 3, 2022, involving a drive-by shooting near Moncrief Road and New Kings Road, where a red Mercedes carrying four teenagers and their coach was attacked.
The gunfire killed 13-year-old Prince Holland, whose family has sat in on trial every day since it began.
The driver was identified as the intended target, according to prosecutors.
During closing arguments Wednesday, prosecutors told each jury that both men played active roles in the deadly shooting — Johnson as the driver of the blue Kia used in the attack, and Garard as the gunman firing at the victims’ car.
In his own recorded confession, Johnson admitted to being part of the incident but claimed he was not the shooter. His defense team emphasized moments from interrogation footage showing detectives pressuring Johnson to take the blame.
“That’s not the sound of justice,” defense attorney Peter Venuti told jurors. “That’s the sound of tunnel vision landing where they want it to.”
Garard’s defense maintained that there was no physical evidence tying him directly to the crime — arguing that friendship and association alone do not prove guilt.
“His jury will exact its own justice against him,” Garard’s attorney said. “That has nothing to do with my client, Kentrevious Garard.”
Meanwhile, prosecutors countered that Johnson’s own words during his confession placed both men at the scene of the shooting.
“He finally had to admit what he couldn’t deny,” the state argued. “He was the driver of the vehicle connected to killing a 13-year-old.”
Judge Jeb Branham told the court earlier this week that he hoped to conclude the trial by Tuesday but delayed proceedings to allow both sides time to finish closing arguments. The judge also mentioned that several jurors have upcoming travel plans, pushing him to keep the schedule tight.
As of Wednesday evening, Johnson’s jury began deliberations just before 2 p.m., while Garard’s jury was sent out shortly after 3:30 p.m.
Both face multiple charges — including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and second-degree murder — in connection to the shooting that killed Holland and injured four others.
The courtroom remains under tight supervision as both juries deliberate. The judge said he will not keep jurors past 10 p.m. Wednesday for deliberations.
