Jury finds Othal Wallace guilty of manslaughter in shooting death of Daytona Beach police officer

[Auburnfan91 1,408]

Jury finds Othal Wallace guilty of manslaughter in shooting death of Daytona Beach police officer

Brenda Argueta, Digital Journalist

Published: September 16, 2023 at 12:02 PM

Updated: September 16, 2023 at 1:28 PM

 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – After jurors did not reach a verdict Friday in the murder trial of a man accused of fatally shooting a Daytona Beach police officer in 2021, deliberations continued Saturday morning until one was reached.

WKMG reports the jury found Othal Wallace guilty of manslaughter with a firearm in the shooting death of Daytona Beach police Officer Jason Raynor.

Wallace faced the death penalty if he were to be convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Raynor, who was shot in June 2021 while investigating a suspicious vehicle.

Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano said he would order a presentence investigation, with said sentencing to take place within 60 days. Until then, Wallace was placed back in custody.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood in a social media thread Saturday afternoon lambasted the decision, stating Raynor’s life didn’t seem to matter to the jury and describing the verdict as akin to “open season on law enforcement.”

The jurors deliberated until 10 p.m. Friday, returning to the Clay County courthouse at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

The defense opened Saturday by asking Zambrano for permission to give the jury more information following Friday’s questions. The prosecution said that the court had adequately answered such questions already, adding the defense hadn’t revealed what they intended to show the jurors.

Judge Zambrano said he would take further arguments into consideration if the jury had more questions, but not until then. A recess was then called and maintained until jurors knocked, and prepared with the verdict.

During day one of the deliberations Friday, the jury had several questions regarding legal detainment, concealed carry and whether it is lawful for an officer to physically restrain a citizen as a form of detainment.

Closing arguments wrapped Thursday after another day of testimony, including Wallace, who took the stand and was the defense’s only witness.

Prosecutors said that on June 23, 2021, Raynor was acting lawfully when trying to question Wallace. The defense argued that the interaction ended with Wallace shooting Raynor in self-defense.

The jury — comprised of nine women and six men — received instructions for deliberations on Friday morning.

Wallace’s trial took place in Clay County after his defense team argued it would be difficult to find an impartial jury in Volusia County because of how much coverage the case had received.

Raynor, who had been with the Daytona Beach Police Department for about three years, was rushed to Halifax Health in grave condition after he was shot in the head. He had remained in critical condition following surgery until officials said on Aug. 17, 2021, that he died as the result of his injuries. Raynor was laid to rest on Aug. 23, 2021, in a tribute that took place across Volusia County.

Wallace was arrested in a multi-state manhunt 56 hours after the shooting.

 

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/09/16/jury-finds-othal-wallace-guilty-of-manslaughter-in-shooting-death-of-daytona-beach-police-officer/

[Auburnfan91 1,408]

Jury selection underway in trial of accused cop killer

Othal Wallace is charged with first degree murder in the death of Daytona Beach Police Officer.

Author: Anne Schindler

Published: 5:45 PM EDT September 5, 2023

Updated: 5:45 PM EDT September 5, 2023

 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — A man facing the death penalty for allegedly murdering a Daytona Beach Police Officer was in Clay County court Tuesday for the first day of jury selection in his case.

Othal Wallace, 31, is charged in the fatal 2021 shooting of Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Raynor. He has pleaded not guilty.

The trial was moved to Clay County because both sides agreed it would be difficult to pick an impartial jury in Volusia County.

Of the 69 jurors questioned Tuesday, only three had previously heard of the case. But more than half said they could not sit for the four-week trial for personal or financial reasons, and the judge ultimately excused 25 for hardship. By day’s end, 32 potential jurors remained. They will return Wednesday for additional questioning. 

Additional potential jurors will be called later this week to form a jury of 12 with four alternates.

Jury selection is expected to take most of the week, and Judge Raul Zambrano told jurors to plan for a monthlong jury service.

Prosecutors say Wallace shot Officer Raynor in the head during a June 23, 2021, confrontation behind Wallace's apartment. Raynor died of his injuries 55 days later.

After a three-day manhunt, Wallace was discovered hiding out in a treehouse outside Atlanta on property owned by an extremist Black militia group, NFAC, labeled a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

At a final pretrial hearing Friday, Judge Zambrano said he would allow jurors to hear a statement police say Wallace uttered after his arrest: “You know who I am. You know what I’m capable of, and it could have been a lot worse.”

The judge will also allow the jury to see Instagram posts Wallace made before the shooting, including one from June 7, 2021 that said, "1 Day I Will Take Great Pride And Honor In Getting Me Some Pigs Blood On My Hands And Boots. I Pray Against My Enemy And Wish Death To All Who Are Oppressive To The Black Culture… Black Power!!"

Wallace’s family was present in the courtroom, seated in the jury box along with some members of the media.

If convicted in the guilt phase of the trial, Wallace will face a separate penalty phase at which jurors must choose a sentence of life in prison or death. Florida law changed in April, eliminating the state's requirement for unanimous verdicts in death cases. Now, a jury vote of 8-4 will send a defendant to death row.

 

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/jury-selection-underway-trial-of-accused-cop-killer/77-da9732d9-b4fb-492c-a891-c4f73a009840

The fact that this guy only got convicted of manslaughter while Daniel Perry got convicted of murder shows that evidence is no longer the most important factor, only the makeup and views of the people involved are what matters most.

Edited September 20, 2023 by Auburnfan91

[I_M4_AU 8,144]

2 minutes ago, Auburnfan91 said:

The fact that this guy only got convicted of manslaughter while Daniel Perry got convicted of murder shows how evidence no longer matters, only the makeup and views of the people involved.

I was on a jury 20 years ago and it ended up hung by a 11-1 vote.  The one vote felt sorry for the defendant.  It’s been happening for awhile.