TRENTON – A man accused of shooting his friend to death in an alley five years ago was acquitted of all charges Friday by a jury.
Zaire Jackson, 22, was found not guilty on counts of murder and weapons charges in the killing of Irvin “Swirv” Jackson in April 2012. The two men were not related.
The jury came back with the not guilty verdict after three days of deliberation and two weeks of a trial.
Mercer County prosecutors had argued Zaire Jackson shot Irvin Jackson wto death in an act of revenge for two incidents a day earlier.
Zaire Jackson’s attorney, Steve Lember, argued Irvin Jackson’s killing may have been drug related and did not involve his client.
End of trial focuses on accused killer’s interview
Much of the trial focused on testimony from several witnesses who claimed to be at the scene and two of whom said they saw the shooting.
Lember attacked the witnesses accounts as unreliable and noted many had criminal records or had something to gain by testifying.
Lember declined to comment Friday and prosecutors were not immediately available for comment.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman
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