OXFORD, Miss. — Testimony began Tuesday in the murder trial of Timothy Herrington Jr., the man charged with capital murder in the disappearance and death of a University of Mississippi student.
Herrington Jr. is accused of murdering 20-year-old Jimmie “Jay” Lee who disappeared in July of 2022. Officers believed he was visiting someone at Molly Barr Trails in Oxford at the time of his disappearance. Lee’s friends and family reported him missing after he failed to return home.
Investigators say they tied Herrington to Lee after reviewing surveillance footage and found bodily fluids that might connect him to Lee. They say the two men were involved in a sexual relationship.
The jury was set Monday and the trial will continue with opening statements on Tuesday morning.
“I’m going to ask that you provide the only verdict that justice will demand and it’s going to be guilty,” Gwendoline Agho said.
Herington could face the death penalty if found guilty of the crime.
Agho, the Hinds County Assistant District Attorney told jurors that the state will show that Herrington planned to kill Lee when he visited his apartment.
The jury is from Forest County, Mississippi, and consists of 15 people — eight women and seven men. Eleven of them are white and four of them are Black. Three of the jurors are alternates.
“Right before Jay gets to the apartment when he’s headed over, right before he gets there – three minutes, Timothy searches how long it would take to strangle someone,” Agho said.
Herrington’s defense attorney quickly picked at the State’s suggestion.
“And what you’re going to hear is nothing about a threat in any shape, form or fashion from my client,” defense attorney Kevin Horan said. “You’re not going to hear that he searched anything about strangling anybody.”
Horan stressed the State lacked proof of Herrington’s involvement or guilt.
“What they’re expecting you to do is allow them to throw something up against the wall, hope it sticks and for you to decide that, ‘Hey, that must be it,” Horan said.
Lee’s body has yet to be found but was presumed dead by the court after a petition from the state.
Tuesday, jurors heard testimony from his tearful mother recalling how excited her son was to attend the University of Mississippi.
“His dream was to come here to Ole Miss,” Stephanie Lee said. “To complete his education in social work and minor in business.”
Herrington’s attorney questioned witnesses Tuesday about Lee’s sexual activity and use of social media.
A lengthy list of witnesses expected to testify include members of the Oxford Police, University Police, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the FBI.
The trial will resume Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.