MIAMI, FL – A murder trial against former University of Miami football player Rashaun Jones has been postponed after defense attorneys received last-minute information from Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding an alleged confession from a Haitian hitman.
Jones, 40, faces second-degree murder charges in connection with the 2006 shooting death of his teammate Bryan Pata. The trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday with opening statements after nearly two decades of legal proceedings.
According to defense attorney Christian Maroni, ICE agents contacted the legal team late Friday claiming a confidential informant reported that a Haitian hitman was responsible for Pata’s death. The informant allegedly told agents the perpetrator made specific statements including “I just killed that kid from the University of Miami.”
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge presiding over the case expressed skepticism about admitting the information as evidence, citing concerns about hearsay and lack of corroborating documentation. “Unless you all have direct evidence that I can use in this case, that I can agree to, and I can allow it to be admissible. This is all based on speculation,” the judge stated.
Prosecutors argued against allowing the testimony, with prosecutor Cristina Diamond noting the absence of supporting documents or witnesses who could verify the claims. The prosecution maintains that the information constitutes inadmissible hearsay.
During a court-ordered deposition, the ICE agent provided additional details about the alleged confession, including claims that the hitman performed voodoo rituals at Pata’s gravesite. Defense attorneys argued this represents a failure by investigators to pursue alternative leads in the case.
The court permitted defense attorneys to conduct a second deposition of the ICE agent, during which additional details emerged about the alleged hitman’s activities. Items reportedly found at the gravesite became part of the discussion during the legal proceedings.
Bryan Pata’s mother was present in the courtroom as the delay was announced, having waited nearly 20 years for the trial to begin. The victim’s family has endured multiple postponements and legal challenges throughout the lengthy case.
The judge scheduled the trial to resume Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m., with both prosecution and defense teams expected to deliver their opening statements. The court will make a final determination on whether the ICE agent’s testimony will be admitted as evidence.
The case represents one of the longest-pending murder prosecutions involving University of Miami athletics, with Jones arrested years after the initial investigation into Pata’s death.
