NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors convinced a Brooklyn judge to seat an anonymous jury in the Jam Master Jay murder trial, citing fears the panel could face “improper influence or intimidation” from the two accused killers and their associates on the street.
The Friday ruling by Federal Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall came after prosecutors laid out their concerns in a 19-page court filing detailing the efforts of accused killers Ronald “Tinard” Washington and Karl Jordan Jr., along with people acting on their behalf, to dissuade witnesses from appearing.
“The defendants and their associates have engaged in attempts to obstruct justice,” wrote U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in court papers. “... The defendants sought to silence potential witnesses against them almost immediately after committing the charged murder. They continue to try to identify and tamper with potential witnesses while incarcerated.”
