Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- The jury in the murder trial of of Marquise Jones, 21, of Providence, finished for the day without reaching a verdict -- some 3 1/2 hours after receiving the case from Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause.

Jones faces five charges in the Dec. 7, 2004, shooting of Brian Davis, 17, also of Providence. Jones allegedly conspired with two friends from the Chad Brown public housing complex, Robert Crowell and Montrel Daniels, to kill Davis in revenge for Davis having "jumped" and beaten Crowell outside a KFC restaurant.

In his summation in Providence County Superior Court, defense lawyer Russell Sollitto challenged eyewitness identifications of Jones as the driver of the car from which Davis was shot and fatally wounded on a Route 95 off-ramp in Providence.

And Sollitto sought to undermine the credibility of Donald "D-Bo" Barnes, whose testimony is key to the state's allegation that Jones conspired with Crowell and Daniels.

Sollitto emphasized that Barnes struck a plea bargain with the state on unrelated criminal charges, including a case in which Barnes was charged with participating in a drive-by shooting. In that case, the state has agreed to seek a maximum nine-year prison sentence, or many fewer years' imprisonment than he would potentially face if convicted of those charges.

Read Journal coverage of yesterday's developments in court.

-- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

 Tags  Brian Davis deliberate Judge Robert D. Krause Marquise Jones murder trial Providence

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