TRENTON – From the start, there were holes in accused killer Zaire Jackson’s story, Mercer County prosecutors argued Tuesday during closing statements.
Jackson’s statements to police about everything from the gun to the time he woke up on the day of the murder had been called into question, Assistant Prosecutor Skylar Weissman said in court.
And, he added, much of it had been a lie.
Weissman and Jackson’s attorney, Steve Lember, both addressed jurors on the final day of the Jackson’s two-week murder trial Tuesday. He is accused of gunning down Irvin “Swirv” Jackson in Moses Alley in April 2012. The two men are not related.
Mercer County prosecutors have said Zaire Jackson was angry over two incidents the day before; a fight at an Easter picnic and several shots that were fired at his house.
Zaire Jackson believed Irvin Jackson was responsible for the gunfire at his home so the next day he chased Irvin Jackson into an alley and shot him to death, execution-style, prosecutors have said.
Lember has denied the claims against his client, saying that much of the evidence is based on unreliable witnesses who had something to gain by claiming to see or know about the shooting.
Video shows figure fleeing area of fatal shooting
During the trial, Lember suggested that the motive may have been drug related and not involved his client at all.
He has also reminded jurors in his opening statements and during cross examination that Zaire Jackson repeatedly denied shooting Irvin Jackson, despite an intensive interview conducted by police.
Prosecutors focused on that interview Tuesday, saying that Jackson initially denied having a gun the day before, but then later admitted to it.
Zaire Jackson also told police he woke up around noon on the day of the shooting but records show that his cell phone was being used nearly an hour earlier, Weissman said.
He also pointed to a witness and relative of Zaire Jackson’s who testified that Zaire Jackson and Irvin Jackson were close friends, something that the accused killer denied during police questioning.
The motive, Weissman said Tuesday, came down purely to an issue of respect.
“He had a reputation to uphold and he was disrespected at that fight,” Weissman told jurors.
Jurors will reconvene for deliberations Wednesday morning.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman.
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