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Jurors made a shocking discovery that the DOJ had missed
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Shamell Naquan Joyner was tried in Washington’s federal court for allegedly robbing seven 7-Elevens and several gas stations, as well as stealing cars in spring 2023, facing a 28-count indictment.
- During jury deliberations, jurors unexpectedly discovered a Chinese yuan bill and a suspicious white powder, believed to be drugs, hidden in clothing evidence, which had not been previously identified by law enforcement or prosecutors.
- The judge and legal teams expressed surprise and concern over the oversight, as the new findings could have prejudiced the jury, but jurors were instructed to disregard these items in their verdict considerations.
- The jury ultimately convicted Joyner on 13 counts related to armed robberies and a carjacking, resulting in a mandatory minimum 31-year sentence, while remaining deadlocked on other charges.
- The incident highlighted unusual challenges in evidence handling and jury deliberations, with authorities declining detailed comments on how the evidence was initially missed.
