Jury Finds Byrd Guilty Of Reduced Charged In Kanku Slaying Caught On Video

Friday, July 13, 2012
Attorney Ryan Hanzelik, left, and Jamaal Byrd
Attorney Ryan Hanzelik, left, and Jamaal Byrd

A Criminal Court jury on Friday found Jamaal Byrd guilty of the reduced charge of manslaughter in a slaying that was caught on video at Kanku's at Wilcox and Tunnel boulevards.

He faces 3-6 years at sentencing by Judge Rebecca Stern on Sept. 24.

Byrd would have been sentenced to life in prison had he been convicted of first-degree murder as charged by the state in the death of Terrance Etchison.

The defense called a single witness - a man who said he heard Etchison threaten to kill Byrd both inside and outside the store.

Several state witnesses said Etchison was unarmed and they did not hear any conflict that would have caused anyone to get shot. 

Defense attorneys were the father-son team of Fred and Ryan Hanzelik  


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