A Nebraska decide has rejected a problem to the demise penalty within the case of a person charged within the killings of 4 individuals final summer season in a small city within the northeastern nook of the state.
Decide Bryan Meismer stated in a ruling late final week that the attorneys representing Jason Jones, 42, didn’t show that Nebraska’s demise penalty regulation is unconstitutional, and it’s too quickly to find out if that penalty is acceptable on this case as a result of it’s nonetheless early within the course of. Jones has but to formally enter a plea within the case.
Prosecutors stated in January that they intend to hunt the demise penalty on this case as a result of the killings had been performed on the similar time different felonies had been dedicated and a minimum of two of the killings had been carried out to hide the opposite two. Plus, prosecutors stated Jones set hearth to the victims’ houses in an effort to assist conceal his identification.
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Jones is charged with arson, weapons counts and 4 counts of first-degree homicide within the August killings of Gene Twiford, 86, and his spouse, Janet Twiford, 85; their daughter, Dana Twiford, 55; and Michele Ebeling, 53.
Jones was arrested after officers discovered him with extreme burns hiding in his spouse’s home, which sits throughout the road from Ebeling’s house in Laurel. He was hospitalized for 2 months earlier than being launched and moved to a jail in Lincoln.
Jones is being held with out bond. He’s now scheduled to seem in courtroom Could 22. His lawyer declined to touch upon the case Tuesday.
Jones’ spouse, 43-year-old Carrie Jones, has additionally been charged with first-degree homicide within the demise of Gene Twiford in addition to tampering with proof and being an adjunct for reportedly hiding her husband as authorities looked for him. Prosecutors stated she advised investigators that she needed her husband to kill Twiford as a result of she says he had been verbally harassing her with sexual feedback and different remarks for a pair years. Prosecutors stated at a February listening to that Carrie Jones both inspired the killing or participated in it herself.
Carrie Jones has additionally not but entered a plea to the fees towards her as a result of she is within the strategy of difficult them. She is being held on $1 million bail. Her legal professional did not instantly reply Tuesday to a message concerning the case.
Laurel is a group of lower than 1,000 individuals, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Omaha.
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