JTVCC Riot Trial Week 4: Jury deliberations

WILMINGTON, Del. – We have the latest from the James T. Vaughn riot trial.

The first group of inmates Jarreau Ayers, Dwayne Staats, and Deric Forney have been on trial for the past month. Now that closing arguments have wrapped up, the jury is deliberating three separate verdicts.

The jury has a lot to look over. They have to determine separate verdicts since there were three different trials going on simultaneously. Plus, they have numerous counts to go over such as first degree murder, kidnapping, assault and rioting.

On Thursday, the State tried to convince the jury through closing arguments that these three men should be held accountable, as they acted as accomplices, which in turn led to the death of Lt. Steven Floyd.

Ayers and Forney claimed their innocence during their closing arguments. Even though Staats admitted that he was the mastermind behind the riot, he said he never intended for anyone to get hurt.

Through the State’s rebuttal, they reminded the jury that a correctional officer was murdered during that takeover, as Lt. Steven Floyd was beaten to death.

The jury didn’t finish on their first day of deliberations and will resume on Monday.