El Sobrante Murder Trial Ends Without Jury

MARTINEZ — Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the recent trial of a man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s cousin after burglarizing her El Sobrante apartment.

Pierre Jackson, 26, has been charged with murdering Dejante Kennedy, 25, and attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend in the same incident. Jackson allegedly broke into the woman’s apartment on Appian Way in El Sobrante and shot Kennedy as he confronted Jackson, after the victims were awakened by the break-in.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the outcome of the case. Jurors announced they were deadlocked in late August, and Judge Charles “Ben” Burch declared a mistrial, according to attorneys and court records.

Darryl Stallworth, the attorney who represented Jackson, said the incident was the result of “layers of love and anger and what I think is uncontrollable rage” and said he was not surprised jurors were unable to reach a verdict. He said all indications were that the jury had difficulty determining whether the charge was first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.

“It’s a very difficult area of ​​law given these facts and what happened,” Stallworth said.

Prosecutors appear ready to retry the case, but a new trial date has not yet been set.