Weapon trial begins in shadow of unsolved homicide
It still unclear why Andre Jackson was tucked underneath a car, while not wearing any socks or shoes, just a short distance from where another Utica man had just been shot and killed in May 2011.
But those unanswered questions may not matter as Jackson, 31, stands trial in Oneida County Court this week only for allegedly possessing a .22 caliber revolver that was found not too far from where a Utica police officer located Jackson.
Jackson recently waived his right to a jury trial, partly out of concerns over any prejudice jurors might have toward Jackson if they became aware that he was taken into discount north face denali custody shortly after 22yearold Reginald Davis was shot in the head on Watson Place, near Genesee Street.
Before witness testimony began, Donalty noted that witnesses would be allowed to discuss the scene of Davis homicide to put their testimony into proper context. Donalty, however, assured the attorneys that such homiciderelated testimony would not be held against Jackson.
No one has been charged yet with killing Davis, and prosecutors have not said whether Jackson is a suspect in the homicide or whether the recovered firearm might have been used to kill Davis.
All north face jacket clearance but one of the nine rounds in the revolver chamber had been fired, and prosecutors said DNA belonging to Jackson and another unknown person was found on the mesh netting on the gun handle.
While Jackson wasn wearing any shoes or socks when he was found by police under a car in a parking lot on the 1500 block of Genesee Street, a pair of shoes and socks were recovered from underneath another nearby vehicle.
It still unclear why Andre Jackson was tucked underneath a car, while not wearing any socks or shoes, just a short distance from where another Utica man had just been shot and killed in May 2011.
But those unanswered questions may not matter as Jackson, 31, stands trial in Oneida County Court this week only for allegedly possessing a .22 caliber revolver that was found not too far from where a Utica police officer located Jackson.
Jackson recently waived his right to a jury trial, partly out of concerns over any prejudice jurors might have toward Jackson if they became aware that he was taken into custody shortly after 22yearold Reginald Davis was shot in the head on Watson Place, near Genesee Street.
Before witness testimony began, Donalty noted that witnesses would be allowed to discuss the scene of Davis homicide to put their testimony into proper context. Donalty, however, assured the attorneys that such homiciderelated testimony would not be held against Jackson.
No one has been charged yet with killing Davis, and prosecutors have not said whether Jackson is a suspect in the homicide or whether the recovered firearm might have been used to kill Davis.
All but one of the nine rounds in the revolver chamber had been fired, and prosecutors said DNA belonging to Jackson and another unknown person was found on the mesh netting on the gun handle.
While Jackson wasn wearing any shoes or socks when he was found by police under a car in a parking lot on the 1500 block of Genesee Street, a pair of shoes and socks were recovered from underneath another nearby vehicle.