El Sobrante murder trial ends with a hung jury
MARTINEZ — Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the recent trial of a man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s cousin after breaking into her El Sobrante apartment.
Pierre Jackson, 26, was charged with murdering 25-year-old Dejante Kennedy and attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend during the same incident. Jackson allegedly broke into the woman’s Appian Way apartment in El Sobrante and shot Kennedy when he confronted Jackson, after the victims were awakened by the break-in.
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case’s outcome. Jurors announced they were hopelessly deadlocked in late August and Judge Charles “Ben” Burch declared a mistrial, according to attorneys and court records.
Darryl Stallworth, a lawyer who represented Jackson, said the incident resulted from “layers of love and anger and what I believe to be an uncontrollable rage” and said he was not surprised jurors couldn’t reach a verdict. He said all indications were that the jury struggled to determine whether it amounted to first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or manslaughter.
“It’s a very difficult area of law given these facts and what transpired,” Stallworth said.
Prosecutors appear to be readying to re-try the case but a new trial date has not yet been set.