A federal judge in Brooklyn overturned the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of murdering Jason Mizell, also known as Jam Master Jay, the DJ behind the legendary Queens-based hip-hop group Run-DMC.
The ruling comes nearly two years after the same federal judge presided over a trial in which a jury found Karl Jordan Jr. guilty for his alleged involvement in Mizell’s 2002 murder. Mizell was Jordan’s godfather.
During the trial prosecutors argued that Mizell was killed over a drug dispute, after becoming a cocaine middleman when his musical career died down. They said that led to the shooting in front of multiple witnesses at his studio in Queens on Oct. 30, 2002.
But on Friday, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ruled there was not enough evidence of the motive to convict Jordan in the first place.
“Here, after a review of the trial record, the court finds that the government’s theories of Jordan’s drug-related motive to kill Mizell or drug offense-related motive to use a firearm are impermissibly speculative and just conjecture,” Hall wrote.
One of Jordan’s attorneys applauded the judge’s decision.
“On behalf of Mr. Jordan and his family, today’s decision brings a measure of solace as they approach the holiday season,” the attorney, Michael Hueston, said.
The other man previously found guilty in Mizell's murder, Ronald Washington, was denied a motion for acquittal.
Jay Bryant, a third man facing charges for his alleged involvement, is expected to stand trial next year.
Mizell, a Brooklyn native, and the rest of Run-DMC are credited with helping hip-hop break into the mainstream in the 1980s with hits including “Walk This Way,” “Christmas in Hollis” and “It’s Like That.”
Mizell's killing became a source of speculation for decades thereafter.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct references to who was killed and where the killing took place.
This story has also been updated to add more information.
