JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Hillsborough County circuit judge has denied requests from four defendants accused in the killing of Charles Jones, the Jacksonville rapper known as “Julio Foolio,” to be tried separately, keeping the case on track for a joint trial, according to a court order filed on Thursday.
The rejected motion, which asked the court to separate the defendants into different trials or use separate juries, was filed by Rashad Trey’Vionne Murphy, Sean Andre Gathright and Isaiah Chance.
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Davion Vershard Murphy adopted the same arguments, the order states.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Attorney for one of the defendants in murder of Jacksonville rapper ‘Julio Foolio’ asking for separate trials
During a Feb. 25 and March 3 hearing on multiple pretrial issues, the parties agreed there was no “Bruton” issue, which is a reference to a U.S. Supreme Court rule limiting the use of a non-testifying co-defendant’s statements against another defendant.
The remaining question for the judge was whether the state intended to introduce evidence that applied only to one defendant but could unfairly influence jurors against others.
The judge identified two text messages the court said would not be admissible against all defendants: a message attributed to Chance sent around Oct. 8, 2023, telling a co-defendant to “stay low” and “stay loyal,” and a message attributed to Davion Murphy sent to Gathright on June 23, 2024, saying, “I’m homing home my thirst is quenched! Pop a bottle of don julio today.”
The order notes that the message was sent after the homicide occurred and therefore would not qualify as a co-conspirator statement because, under Florida law cited by the court, a conspiracy typically ends once the crime has been committed.
Even so, the judge wrote that the state indicated it will not seek to introduce either message at a joint trial before the same jury panel.
After attending a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, the joint trial is expected to begin on April 8.