Garrard’s defense argues that there is no solid evidence tying him directly to the crime. Johnson’s team contends that he was not the shooter, merely the getaway driver.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Following a lengthy five-day trial, the double murder case concerning the 2022 killing of 13-year-old Prince Holland is drawing to a close.
Judge Jeb Branham informed the courtroom today that he’s “confident we’ll finish tomorrow,” though the session extended later than anticipated, commencing an hour late and expected to continue into the evening.
Defendants Marcel Johnson and Kentravious Garrard are being tried at the same time but before separate juries in the Duval County Courthouse. Both are charged in relation to Holland’s death, which deeply affected the Jacksonville community when the teenager was shot and killed leaving football practice just days before Christmas 2022.
Garrard’s lawyer spent nearly two hours interrogating the lead investigator, Sgt. T.C. Mitlyng, regarding perceived shortcomings in the state’s probe, such as missing interviews, unexecuted search warrants, and phone data that was never obtained for some crucial figures in the case.
Stephanie Nicole Jamieson, Garrard’s lawyer, also verified with Mitlyng that “no evidence suggests Garrard was involved in any incident” discussed during testimony, to which the lead investigator replied, “No, ma’am.”
After Garrard’s defense rested, prosecutors called for the jury to be excused before continuing their rebuttal.
The state requested permission to present testimony that Johnson told investigators he was driving the car involved in the shooting, but Judge Branham rejected that citing the court’s earlier decision to keep each defendant’s statements separate.
“I am not allowing you to put before Mr. Garrard’s jury Mr. Johnson’s statement,” said Branham. “That’s the whole reason we did this structure, and we aren’t changing that at this time.”
Branham later allowed the state to clarify a limited portion of that exchange to “allow for the scope of an appropriate response.”
Sgt. Mitlyng then testified that Johnson admitted to driving the blue Kia that fired shots into a red Mercedes carrying five victims and that Garrard was the one shooting.
Following that testimony, the court played a one-hour and thirteen-minute video of Johnson’s police interview.
Garrard’s defense maintains that no hard evidence connects him directly to the crime. Johnson’s team argues he was not the shooter, saying he only drove the car and panicked after gunfire erupted.
Both juries are still reviewing evidence, with testimony expected to continue late into the evening, potentially could wrap up jury deliberations with a verdict on Wednesday.
