NEW YORK — In a surprising development, one of the convictions in the high-profile Jam Master Jay murder case has been overturned by a judge. This decision comes nearly two years after the initial verdict was delivered by a jury.
Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall recently nullified the murder charges against Karl Jordan Jr. The judge determined that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish a motive for Jordan to kill Jason Mizell, the celebrated DJ known as Jam Master Jay.
During the trial, an eyewitness had testified, claiming to have seen Jordan, who was also Jam Master Jay’s godson, commit the crime at the DJ’s recording studio in Queens on October 30, 2002. Despite this testimony, the defense contended that the evidence did not substantiate the prosecution’s narrative of a retaliatory murder linked to a botched drug deal.
In response to the judge’s ruling, John Diaz, one of Jordan’s attorneys, expressed relief and satisfaction. “We are really happy for Mr. Jordan and his family that justice was served,” Diaz stated in an email, underscoring the significant impact of this legal victory for Jordan and his loved ones.
But Jordan’s lawyers had argued that the evidence didn’t support prosecutors’ claims that he killed Jam Master Jay, as revenge for a failed drug deal.
“We are really happy for Mr. Jordan and his family that justice was served,” attorney John Diaz said in an email.
Jordan had not yet been sentenced on the murder charges, but remains behind bars awaiting trial on drug charges from many years after the killing.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is reviewing the decision.
Separately, the judge said the government proved the motive in the case against co-defendant Ronald Washington; so, his motion for an acquittal was denied.
Mizell worked the turntables in Run-D.M.C. as the group helped hip-hop break into the pop music mainstream in the 1980s with such hits as “It’s Tricky” and a fresh take on Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”
His killing became one of the hip-hop world’s most elusive cases.
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