An appellate court in Florida has removed a judge from sentencing in a closely watched manslaughter case tied to the 2024 killing of rapper Charles “Julio Foolio” Jones after defense attorneys raised concerns about bias during trial.
The Florida 2nd District Court of Appeals ruled that Judge Michelle Sisco should no longer preside over proceedings involving defendant Alicia LaToya Andrews, whose lawyer now plans to seek a new trial.
Jeremy McLymont, founder of AsiliA Law Firm, said the ruling was overdue. “Everyone is entitled to a fair trial, including Ms. Andrews,” he said, according to Legal Affairs and Trials with Meghann Cuniff. “We are convinced that a new trial should and will be granted after some litigation at the trial or appellate level.”
TMZ releases footage if the immediate aftermath of the Julio foolio shooting at 3751 Fowler avenue in Tampa. Happen just before 5AM this morning pic.twitter.com/mf5nkWjtEM
— STREETWORK85NAWF BY DRE HOVA (@Streetwork85N) June 23, 2024
Andrews’ trial was livestreamed, and McLymont submitted 16 video clips as evidence. “You could never capture the mannerisms and the tone through a transcript,” he said. “The recordings helped immensely.”
In an 18-page petition, McLymont argued the judge abandoned “cold neutrality” by humiliating defense counsel, assisting prosecutors and rushing the defense case. “Ms. Andrews maintains that she has a reasonable fear that the trial court has abandoned its role to be an impartial arbiter,” he wrote.
A jury convicted Andrews of manslaughter in October but acquitted her of murder and conspiracy charges. She is the first of five defendants to stand trial in Jones’ death.