KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — The murder trial of former WMU Basketball player Joeviair Kennedy has gotten underway, after Kennedy agreed to cooperate with his lawyer and not be disruptive.
The defendant’s behavior prompted his own attorney to be asked to be dismissed and delayed jury selection on Tuesday. The jury was selected and opening arguments presented.
Kennedy is charged with being the accomplice to a drug rip-off at the SOHO Apartments in December of 2016, but his attorney told the jury that that was all he signed up for, not a murder.
WMU Student Jake Jones was shot when Kennedy’s high school friend, who he claims talked him into the crime, Jordan Waire was convicted of murder last month. They both played basketball as high school students in Muskegon.
Waire also claimed at his trial that he did not intend to kill anyone, he was just trying to pistol whip the victim when the gun went off and shot Jones in the head.
Kennedy was implicated when he dropped his cell phone at the scene, during an attempt to take the cell phones of everyone who witnessed the crime.
Both Waire and Kennedy could get up to life if Kennedy is also convicted.
