Accused killer makes appearance at hearing before trial
A status hearing for the case against accused murderer, Roshaun Jones, was held in an Oklahoma County courtroom Monday afternoon.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A status hearing for the case against accused murderer, Roshaun Jones, was held in an Oklahoma County courtroom Monday afternoon.
Jones will stand trial in September on capital murder charges in the deaths of Nekia Jackson and Russ Roberts, who were both found shot to death inside a Del City laundromat in 2017.
Jones appeared at the status hearing, which was a chance for attorneys from both the state and defense to update the judge on the case.
"I'm innocent. I've been locked up for eight years for a crime I did not do," said Jones to the News 4 camera as he walked into Judge Susan Stallings courtroom.
His handcuffed arms were loaded down with brown folders filled with documents and paperwork. His attorney told Judge Stalling the defense team had not received documents from the state including autopsy reports, recorded interviews with Del City Police, and Jones’ phone records.
The lawyer told the judge he is “running out to time.” The capital murder trial is set to begin September 9, 2024.
Jones waived his right to a speedy trial back in 2017 but the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office acknowledged last week that the case has taken too long. They said the delays were due mostly to public defender changes, Covid, and a transition to a new DA.
In July, the state requested DNA testing on seven hairs found on the trash bag at the scene in 2017.
Judge Stallings stated during the status hearing that she had received a large packet at her office Friday. She said inside were two motions that were “unsealed and unstamped” and sent by Jones himself from jail. The motions were to request a speedy trial and to dismiss the case. Stallings told Jones the motions should come from his attorney.
The accused killer attempted to speak during the hearing but after a brief discussion with his lawyer, he was advised not to talk. Jones could be heard saying “it’s my life on the line.”
During the hearing, both sides agreed to work on sharing documents before coming back for a hearing on August 23, 2024.
News 4 attempted to reach the families of the victims in the case, for comment on the upcoming trial, but family members KFOR spoke to declined to comment.