A Florida judge has scheduled a new trial in the long-running murder case involving a former Miami Hurricanes football player.
Prosecutors will retry Rashaun Jones on May 18 after a mistrial was declared earlier this week when jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the second-degree murder case tied to the death of teammate Bryan Pata, according to information obtained by ESPN’s Paula Lavigne on Wednesday. (Source).
Judge Orders Retrial Following Hung Jury
The State of Florida 11th Circuit Court Judge Cristina Miranda set the new trial date during a hearing Wednesday after the previous proceedings ended with a hung jury.
Miranda also ruled on Jones’ bond, lowering it from $850,000 to $500,000. Defense attorney Sara Alvarez had requested the amount be reduced to $50,000, but the court declined that request.
Even with the reduction, Alvarez said Jones would still be unable to afford the amount required for release, which would be approximately $50,000 through a bondsman.
During the hearing, Miranda also asked Jones whether he would consider accepting a plea deal. Jones declined, repeating a stance he had taken earlier in the case.
At a previous hearing, Jones also rejected a plea offer that included a proposed 15-year sentence with credit for time served. That offer was below the standard sentencing guidelines tied to second-degree murder convictions. If found guilty at trial, Jones could face a life sentence.
Case Dates Back Nearly Two Decades
Jones has remained in custody since his arrest in August 2021 in connection with the 2006 killing of Pata.
Pata, a defensive lineman for Miami, was shot outside his apartment complex on Nov. 7, 2006, after returning home from football practice. He was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.
Prosecutors argued that tension between the two players escalated due to jealousy involving a woman and a history of confrontations between the teammates.
According to the state’s case, Jones was also upset after learning he would be suspended for two games following a failed drug test, a development prosecutors suggested contributed to the events leading up to the shooting.
Testimony Central to the Case
The prosecution relied heavily on witness testimony during the trial. One former University of Miami writing instructor testified that he saw a man he later identified as Jones leaving the apartment complex shortly after the shooting occurred.
However, several jurors who spoke after the trial said they believed the evidence presented by the state did not definitively prove Jones was responsible for the killing.
Jurors also cited concerns about the reliability of eyewitness testimony as a key factor in their inability to reach a unanimous verdict.
What Comes Next
With the new trial scheduled for May 18, the case surrounding Pata’s death—one of the most widely discussed tragedies in Miami football history—will return to court.
Nearly two decades after the shooting, the retrial will once again attempt to determine whether Jones was responsible for the killing of his former teammate.