The jury has delivered a mixed verdict in the murder trial of Samantha Woll, the beloved Detroit synagogue leader and political activist whose 2023 stabbing death devastated the metro Detroit Jewish community and her still-grieving family.
The jury acquitted the defendant of the most serious charge, deadlocked on two other counts and convicted him of the most minor count.
Here's how the jury voted in deciding the fate of the defendant, 29-year-old Michael Jackson-Bolanos, who was charged with the following crimes:
More: Jury reaches not guilty verdict on first degree murder charge in Samantha Woll case
- First-degree premeditated murder : He was acquitted of that count, which is the most serious homicide charge in Michigan and carries a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
- Felony murder : The jury deadlocked on this count. Felony murder does not have to be intentional and often is applied when someone is killed during the commission of another crime — in this case, home invasion. This charge also carries a penalty of life in prison.
- Home Invasion: The jury deadlocked on this count. It carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
- Lying to police : The jury convicted on this count, which is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years, a maximum $5,000 fine, or both.
Jackson-Bolanos, a habitual offender who has served time for car thefts, has maintained he is innocent. He said he was out casing cars when he stumbled across Woll's body, but that he didn't murder her. The prosecution maintains he is lying, stressing he had her blood on his jacket, and security video and cellphone data placed only him near the scene of the crime.
Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Samantha Woll murder trial: Here are the 4 crimes the jury decided
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