Jury out Friday night in contract-killing case
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A jury deliberated into the night Friday in the case of the 2007 contract killing of a man suspected of stealing $80,000 in drug money from three Baton Rouge men.
As of press time, the jury in state district court was still deliberating in the case of Freddie Washington, who is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 19-year-old Antonio Coleman.
Coleman was gunned down Jan. 22, 2007, while he sat in a car in the parking lot of a Taco Bell on Greenwell Springs Road.
Six people are charged in the case. Five face a single count of principal to second-degree murder for allegedly assisting in the commission of the crime.
They are Jesse Harris, brothers Troy and Travis James, Brittany Taylor and Sarah Freeman.
All face a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted as charged.
Coleman is believed to have stolen drug money from Harris and the James brothers, an arrest warrant says.
Washington told police he was hired by Harris and the James brothers and was to be paid $10,000 for shooting Coleman, the warrant says.
Washington never got the cash but received crack cocaine and powder cocaine instead, the warrant says.
In his closing argument to the jury, prosecutor Ron Gathe played a portion of an audiotape of Washington being interviewed by police.
On the tape, Washington admitted shooting Coleman.
“I hate the fact that I was the one,’’ he said. “God knows I would take it back if I could.’’
Washington also acknowledged that a $10,000 payment was arranged. On the tape, he explained what would happen if he did not get his money.
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