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Jury returns split verdict in Mobile double murder trial involving shooting at dice game
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Jury returns split verdict in Mobile double murder trial involving shooting at dice game

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) – A jury on Friday returned a split verdict in a double murder case that centered on a shooting that broke out at an illegal craps game five and a half years ago.

After deliberating Thursday afternoon and for about an hour Friday, the jury found Jerome Marquis Williams, 39, of Mobile, guilty of the murder of Willie Moffett, but acquitted him of the murder of Carlos Cunningham. The jury also convicted him of one of two counts of second-degree assault and of shooting into an occupied vehicle and an occupied building.

The jury found his brother, Cedric Cortez Williams, 34, of Mobile, not guilty of Moffett’s murder but guilty of misdemeanor manslaughter in Cunningham’s death. He was also convicted of one of two counts of second-degree assault.

Jerome Williams faces a sentence of 20 years to life in prison for the murder charge, and his brother’s sentencing range for involuntary manslaughter is 10 to 20 years. Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said his office intends to seek the maximum sentence for both defendants.

“These two brothers must be held accountable for their actions,” he said. “This was a volatile situation that involved a lot of shooting. Many more people could have been injured as a result of this. There were several people who were injured in addition to the two who died.”

This week’s trial came more than a year after Mobile County Circuit Judge Vicki Davis declared a mistrial just before closing arguments after learning that a DNA report by a prosecution expert had not been provided to the defense.

“Based on everything that happened and our analysis of the case, we decided within this office that it was important to retry this case and hold these criminals accountable,” Blackwood said.

James Byrd, Cedric Williams’ attorney, said his client will likely appeal.

“I respect the jury’s decision,” he said. “They reviewed a great deal of evidence, evidence and testimony, but I respectfully maintain that I believe he is not guilty.”

According to testimony this week in Mobile County Circuit Court, in March 2019, between 15 and 20 people were playing in a “fur house” in the 500 block of Dauphin Island Parkway with between 10 and 30 guns. Jerome Williams got into an argument with Moffett over a bet and then bullets started flying.

Blackwood said investigators determined that others who fired the shots were acting in self-defense or defending others.

Byrd argued that it was others, not his client, who initiated the violence. During final argumentsHe attacked the credibility of witnesses who he said gave testimony that was inconsistent with their original statements to police.

“Carlos Cunningham shot him in the butt, he shot and killed Carlos Cunningham,” he said. “And instead of self-defense, the jury said it was involuntary manslaughter.”

One of the victims, Moffett, jumped into a red Ford Fusion trying to flee and was killed by a gunshot that went through the passenger side door. Blackwood said the shooting occurred outside the home in a residential area.

“And it certainly is a dangerous situation,” he said. “You know, the bullets don’t stop in the yard where the fight takes place. Then innocent people could have been killed. “We are grateful that that did not happen in this case.”