MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Shelby County jury returned different verdicts for two of the men charged in the death of Gershun Freeman.
Courtney Parham and Stevon Jones were originally charged and indicted for second-degree murder.
Wednesday, a jury found Parham guilty of lesser charges, including criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. Jones was acquitted of all charges.
"Mr. Jones, the jury has found you not guilty of all three counts, you are discharged, sir. Thank you very much," Hon. Chris Craft, the judge who presided over this trial, told the court after the verdict was read.
"We are obviously thrilled at the jury's verdict. It does not erase the past four years that Stevon Jones has had to go through, he'll never get those four years back," Jack Irvine, Jones's attorney, told FOX13.
Surveillance video from inside the jail at 201 Poplar showed several jailers struggling and fighting with Freeman in October 2022.
The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. Months later, the Davidson County District Attorney's office announced the indictment for nine jailers - seven for assault and two for second-degree murder.
FOX13 spoke to Freeman's parents after the verdict. "Jones, he got away. A lot of them got away, Parham, he just sacrificed for them," said George Burks, Freeman's father.
He added, "They stomped my baby to death. And I hope they get everything they got, I wish death on them."
Freeman's mom, Kimberly Freeman, said, "I stand here with my head held high, my faith still trusting and leaning and depending on God for everything because it's been four years and to try to get justice and grieve at the same time is not for the weak."
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