A judge's ruling on mishandled critical evidence in a 2015 Liberty County murder case has given the family of Brandon Jenkins hope for justice after the conviction was upheld for over a decade.
Liberty County murder case reexamined after 11 years: Family holds onto hope for justice Read full article: Liberty County murder case reexamined after 11 years: Family holds onto hope for justice A man was shot in the leg following an argument outside the Diamond Ridge Apartment Homes in northwest Houston late Saturday night.
Read full article: Harris County Treasurer arrested, charged with DWI Montgomery County sheriff’s investigators arrested Jeremy Michael Buckner, 35, of Porter, in connection with a fatal hit-and-run on U.S. Highway 59. After more than a decade of fighting in the courts, the family of Brandon Jenkins, convicted in a 2015 Liberty County murder case, is seeing new developments that could change the course of his case, is holding onto hope after a judge recently ruled that critical evidence may not have been properly handled during his trial.
A Liberty County judge found that items were removed from the victim’s body before law enforcement secured the scene, and that prosecutors referenced a missing cell phone during opening statements without disclosing it to the defense. The court said this information could have been favorable and material to Jenkins’ self-defense claim.
“He’s been saying this for 11 years. That was his testimony in 2015, and it was overlooked,” said Ashley Thomas, Jenkins’ sister.
“That was a major piece of the case. ”The victim, Brandon Jenkins’ father-in-law, had reportedly been close friends with Jenkins prior to the incident. According to family accounts, what began as a disagreement between the two men escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in the father-in-law’s death. The family maintains that Jenkins acted in self-defense.
Thomas described the men as “like two peas in a pod,” and said the confrontation was tragic rather than premeditated.
“Of course we believe Brandon acted in self-defense that day,” Thomas said. “It was a fight that got out of hand, and the court overlooked key evidence that could show that. ”Jenkins was convicted in 2015 in Liberty County and sentenced to 99 years in prison. The family argues that the trial was unfair because critical evidence was removed or withheld, including the victim’s cell phone and other items that could have shed light on the events of that day.
“Just imagine the families that don’t have the money to get the attorneys to fight for justice,” Thomas said. “I could just imagine how many more people are fighting cases just like this. ”Reopening the case took over a decade of effort, financial resources, and legal assistance from outside the family. Thomas says the experience has made her reflect on the many families who might not have the same means to challenge a conviction.
The case now moves to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest criminal court. Judges there will decide whether Jenkins’ trial should be reviewed and if he could be granted a new hearing based on the newly highlighted evidence. For the Jenkins family, the legal process has been long and emotionally exhausting, but they remain determined to see justice applied fairly and equally, regardless of resources.
Breaking News AlertsJoy Addison joined the KPRC 2 News team in November of 2024. She is a native Mississippian and moved to Houston in 2019.
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Liberty County Murder Case Brandon Jenkins Father-In-Law Disagreement Physical Altercation Self-Defense Claim Critical Evidence Trial
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