The End of the Story

Phillip Ellison, stands accused of the 2008 rape and murder of his 14-year-old niece, Jamesha Terry. Jamesha was reported missing after she did not return from school. Her nude body was found weeks later hidden in a field near her uncle’s apartment complex in California City, California.

Ellison was not charged with Jamesha’s murder until about 1 year later. Prosecutors had originally decided to seek the death penalty if Ellison was convicted, but they later withdrew the death penalty option.

Ellison’s trial began last week with opening arguments; however, the judge on the case declared a mistrial on Monday, June 7, citing juror misconduct. The judge did not divulge what led to the issue of juror misconduct. A new jury will be selected later this week.

June 18, 2010

According to court records, Phillip Ellison’s new trial date is set for August 2, 2010. The jury trial will be held at Kern County Court House, Metropolitan Division, 1415 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301, Division 1 at 9 a.m.

August 30, 2010

With little press coverage in the Kern County area, Phillip Ellison’s second trial for the murder of his niece began on August 27 with Opening Statements. Ellison’s first trial earlier this year resulted in a mistrial due to juror misconduct.

I hunted the Internet for quite a while until I found the following blurb about the trial:

TRIAL BEGINS FOR CALIFORNIA CITY MAN
08-27-2010 The trial for a California City man charged with the attempted rape and murder of his 14 year old niece is finally underway. In Friday’s opening statements, prosecutors said Phillip Ellison buried Jamisha Terry’s body about 150 yards from his apartment in April of 2007. Police had long suspected Ellison of the crime, but it took a year to link him to the murder with DNA.¹

Juror Misconduct Prompts Mistrial in Murder, Rape Case, BakersfieldNow.com, Last Accessed: 06.08.10.

CA v. Ellison, Phillip, Case#BF122622A, Superior Court of Kern County Records, Last Accessed: 06.18.10.

1. Trial Begins for California City Man, KUZZ.com, Last Accessed: 08.30.10. [↩]