Aiyana Jones' family holds rally with officer in court
/Displaying a photo of her dead granddaughter, Jones held a Monday protest outside Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, demanding a conviction for the officer accused of fatally shooting her grandchild more than two years ago during a raid at the family's Detroit home.
"The people of Detroit are starting to forget about Aiyana. I'm not going away," Jones told reporters after Monday's pretrial hearing for Detroit Police officer Joseph Weekley, who is accused in the May 16, 2010, shooting of 7-year-old Aiyana Jones.
"He is supposed to protect and serve. All she was served was a bullet to the brain."
Jones — supported by Ron Scott of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, and several members of the International Socialists Organization — came to the courthouse Monday for Weekley's brief appearance.
Circuit Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway told attorneys on the case Monday that she plans to rule early next year on a motion by defense to dismiss involuntary manslaughter charges against Weekley on claims prosecution has failed to provide enough evidence to support its case.
Weekley and co-defendant Allison Howard, a field producer for the cop show "First 48," were charged by Wayne County Circuit Court's Chief Judge Timothy Kenny, who acted as a one-man grand jury.
Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy, said Monday that the office conducted a "comprehensive review" of the evidence and charged Weekley "based upon facts we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt in court."
While Aiyana died during the early morning hours of May 16, 2010, the events leading up to her death began two days earlier with the shooting death of a teen named Je'Rean Blake outside a party store near the intersection of Mack Avenue and Beniteau Street.
Police sought suspect Chauncey Owens in the shooting and obtained a warrant to search a home on the 4050 block of Lillibridge Street where Owens was believed to be hiding with his fiancee, Aiyana's aunt.
Police raided the home at 12:40 a.m. May 16 after first throwing a flash grenade through the front window of the home.
As police rushed in, Weekley fired a shot that struck Aiyana.
The child was rushed to St. John Hospital, where she died.
The court Monday set a Nov. 30 date for Hathaway and the attorneys to experience the effects of the concussive grenade firsthand. The flash-bang grenade will be detonated by the Michigan State Police in order for the judge to decide if the jury later selected for Weekley's trial should experience being in a room with the weapon designed to disorient through a burst of light that's accompanied with a loud blast.
Howard is charged with obstruction of justice and perjury. Her trial is slated for Dec. 3.
In Blake's slaying, Owens — who was found hiding on the second floor of the Lillibridge home during the raid — was originally charged with first-degree murder. He later cut a deal with prosecutors to plead to a reduced charge of second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against Charles Jones, who authorities say supplied Owens with the murder weapon. The plea was voided after Owens refused to testify.
Charles Jones is facing life in prison without parole on first-degree murder charges in Blake's death.
Charles Jones was charged in October 2011 following lengthy investigations by the Michigan State Police and Worthy. He's also charged with perjury for allegedly lying during a grand jury hearing.
Charles Jones remains in Wayne County Jail while appeals in the case are pending in the state Supreme Court.
Mertilla Jones said her son's incarceration is devastating for the family as they await closure in her granddaughter's death.
"He can't even grieve," she said. "He should not be in this situation."
