CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The fate of Barack Williams, the teenager charged with felony murder in connection with a robbery that left Caden Martin, a Charleston tobacco store clerk, dead last year, is in the hands of the jury.
Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers turned the case over to the jury following the conclusion of closing arguments around 11 am Monday, and deliberations came to a halt more than 90 minutes later after the judge received a note from the jury room.
“This is an unsigned note which reads, ‘Need bailiff. Foreman irate—threatening,” she said.
After conferring with the prosecution and defense, Akers elected to grant the jury a break for lunch to allow tensions to decrease before reconvening later in the afternoon.
Williams faces the murder charge after he allegedly served as the lookout for a robbery at Tobacco and Pipe in north Charleston in which Bre’juan Williams-Hampton held Martin at gunpoint to steal vapes, money, and a bong before shooting him.
West Virginia law stipulates that if someone is killed during the commission of a dangerous felony, then its perpetrators can be held responsible for the death.
Following jury instructions, Kanawha County assistant prosecuting attorney Chris Krivonyak began the closing statements by detailing the evidence the state believed it had provided to satisfy each of the elements needed to convict Williams.
“From the state, we submit that justice needs you to find Barack Williams guilty of felony murder because Caden DeaSean Martin died during the robbery that he had planned and executed with Bre’juan Hampton,” he said.
Williams’ defense attorney, Ed Bollman, led his closing argument by expressing the empathy he feels for Martin’s family but asked the jury to consider the presumption of innocence that Williams is afforded under the law.
“That’s what Barack Williams is entitled to: that same benefit of the doubt, that same presumption of innocence that you would give to any close to you: family member, best friend, what have you,” he said.
Kanawha County assistant prosecuting attorney Madison Tuck was the last to speak during closing arguments, emphasizing in her final words the evidence presented by the state that after Williams-Hampton killed Martin, Williams returned home and ate ice cream bars that he stole during the robbery.
“I ask you one final time to find the defendant, Barack Howard Williams, guilty of felony murder during the commission of first-degree robbery, a robbery in which he was an enthusiastic participant. He was so enthusiastic, in fact, that he needed a snack afterwards,” she said.
The jury is expected to reconvene at 2:15 pm Monday to resume deliberations.