JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A jury on Friday began deliberations in the murder trial of a man accused of ordering his stepbrother to kill a witness from jail.
Jecorian McCray, 28, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and tampering in the 2016 shooting death of University of North Florida information technology engineer Joe Brenton.
The prosecution rested its case Friday. The defense asked the judge for a verdict of direct acquittal, which was denied. The defense then rested without calling any witnesses. The jury began deliberations around 3:30 p.m.
McCray was initially arrested in a 2014 burglary at Brenton’s Oceanway home. According to prosecutors, McCray, from jail, ordered Brenton, 48, to be killed to prevent him from testifying in the burglary case.
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McCray’s stepbrother Dakarai Maxwell, 22, is charged with first-degree murder as the accused shooter. He’ll be tried separately.
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Two others were arrested as accomplices and have pleaded guilty. They’re expected to testify against McCray.
If convicted, McCray could get the death penalty.
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