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Jabrai Copney: Jury weighing fate of NYC man in Harvard killing – Metro US

Jabrai Copney: Jury weighing fate of NYC man in Harvard killing

Jurors on Wednesday began deliberating the case of a New York City man accused of gunning down a 21-year-old inside a Harvard University dorm two years ago.

Jabrai Copney’s attorney said his client is innocent and that the incident that led to Justin Cosby’s death was not a planned robbery, but a drug deal gone bad.

“An argument erupts and a murderous bully from New York City shoots Mr. Cosby,” said John Amabile, referring to Blayn Jiggetts, who was also charged in the murder. Jiggetts took a plea deal of less than 20 years in jail in exchange for testimony against Copney.

In his closing statement to the jury Wednesday, Amabile tried to discredit the prosecution’s witness testimony. He described Jiggetts as a “homicidal bully from Harlem” whose testimony was “garbage.”

“There was no premeditation by anybody expect Mr. Jiggetts, the guy who is flying free,” Amabile said.

Dan Bennett, an assistant district attorney for Middlesex County, said Copney was the one who fired the gun and planned to rob Cosby of drugs and nearly $1,000 in cash.

Bennett said Copney had motive to kill because he had contact with Cosby before the shooting and would be the only one Cosby would be able to identify if he made it to police.

“This case starts with one man,” Bennett said while sometimes pointing at Copney. “He planned it. He brought all the parties together … and because of that, Justin Cosby is dead.”

Pair pleads in death

Justin Aquino and Blayn Jiggetts, both 21 and of New York City, agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter for their role in the murder of Justin Cosby in May 2009.

Authorities said the men, along with Jabrai Copney, planned to rob Justin Cosby of money and drugs in the basement of a dorm.