Hearing continued in murder case

Published 9:40 am Tuesday, January 26, 2016

A court hearing for a Brookhaven man charged with capital murder in the death of a 13-month-old child has been continued until Feb. 1.

Trial for Jamaal Brown is scheduled on March 8 in Lincoln County Circuit Court.

Brown, 30, of 1205 Broken Lane, was indicted Sept. 3, 2014, on a charge of capital murder of 13-month-old Preston Reynolds, also known as Preston Jude Heath, on Jan. 23, 2014. The indictment alleges that the child was struck on the head or another form of abuse that would cause serious bodily harm, resulting in his death. An autopsy report showed Reynolds had a fractured skull and contusions to the face.

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Brown entered a plea of not guilty at his capital murder bond hearing on Sept. 11, 2014, and bail was set at $100,000.

At the bond hearing, District Attorney Dee Bates gave a limited presentation of the autopsy report that showed the toddler had multiple fractures to the skull and contusions to the head and face. The report stated that the medical examiner ruled the death as a homicide.

Brown’s attorney, Matthew Kitchens, said Brown was the one who brought the child to the hospital after the injury in January and stayed with him there until the 13-month-old died. He added that Brown gave a detailed report to the police department and brought officers to the home where an incident occurred.

Bates said Brown was the only person in the bathroom with the child when the incident occurred.

Brown is a registered nurse, having received his degree from Southwest Mississippi Community College.

Bates said that if the accused is found guilty, there are a variety of sentences that could be handed down, including the death penalty, life in prison with or without parole or a combination of sentences.