The last of four defendants charged with murder and armed robbery of a St. Thomas jewelry store lost a bid to have his pending trial moved to St. Croix. The denial of a motion to change venues came Wednesday from the judge assigned to the case of Jahmar Lewis.
Lewis — a minor at the time — was arrested a few days after the Dec. 4, 2021, robbery and shooting at Glitters Jewelry Store at Havensight Shopping Center. He was charged as an adult with multiple offenses in March 2022. A witness at the scene identified the defendant as one of three armed persons who entered the store and took an estimated $18,000 worth of merchandise.
Police documents also say the defendant was identified as the gunman who turned and fired shots into the store as the robbery team was leaving. A shopper and a security guard were wounded at the scene. Customer Gregoriana Julien succumbed to her injuries while being treated at Schneider Regional Medical Center on Jan. 1, 2022.
On Wednesday Superior Court Judge Carol Thomas-Jacobs addressed claims made by the defendant about his chances for getting a fair trial on St. Thomas.
Defense attorney David Cattie said news reports about the robbery, assault and murder would make it difficult to find unbiased jurors. The judge, in her denial, said most of the news reports about the Glitters robbery and shootings were published three years ago.
Subsequent reports, Jacobs said, were factual accounts updating developments in the case. “Based on these circumstances, the court cannot conclude that the pretrial publicity was so inflammatory that this district is unable to empanel an impartial jury,” the judge said.
Defendants Lewis, Michia Cozier, Akenda Weeks and Junior Garcia were scheduled to stand trial on Nov. 18, 2024, but attempts to pick a jury failed. Since then, Cozier, Weeks, and Garcia filed with the court for change of pleas. All three are scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 16.
That left Lewis alone to stand trial with a new jury cycle, and jury selection in his case is set for Aug. 11. Pending charges include aiding and abetting murder, robbery, assault, attempted murder, and kidnapping.
He is also charged with illegal weapons possession.
