The jury will resume Friday morning to resume deliberation in a murder trial for two men accused of shooting a corrections officer to death.
TRENTON - Jury deliberations are stretching into their fourth day in a murder trial for two men accused of shooting to death an off-duty corrections officer three years ago.
Hykeem Tucker and Maurice Skillman are on trial for the 2012 slaying of Mercer County Corrections Officer Carl Batie.
Hykeem Tucker (left) and Maurice Skillman (right) are on trial for the 2012 slaying of off-duty corrections officer Carl Batie Prosecutors believe Tucker and Skillman arrived at the Baldassari Regency banquet hall in November, 2012 and opened fire at a balcony where around 50 people were standing. Batie was the only one killed in the gunfire but authorities have said they do not believe he was the intended target.
Tucker and Skillman were arrested over the next two months and charged with murder, aggravated assault and weapons charges for the shooting.
Now, over three years after the arrest, their case is still ongoing. The trial started the week of Jan. 18 with jury selection. It lasted over the course of the next few weeks until defense attorneys and prosecutors made their closing arguments Tuesday.
On Thursday afternoon jurors announced that they had not made a decision and that they would resume Friday morning - bringing their deliberations into the fourth day.
The trial has seen a host of evidence and witnesses in the past few weeks, including testimony from Batie's brother, Karshawn Batie who was on the balcony and said he remembers diving to the ground at the sound of gunfire.
In their closing arguments prosecutors focused largely on his testimony and on surveillance videos of the scene taken just before and after the shooting. The videos show two men - whom prosecutors claim are Tucker and Skillman - rummaging through a car before standing at the edge of the frame just before the shooting.
But the evidence has been criticized for its relevance. Last week Superior Court Judge Andrew Smithson discussed the evidence in court without the jury present. He said much of the evidence - including a hat and lighter that had been found at the scene - did not seem to be directly related to Tucker or Skillman.
The jury is expected to resume deliberations Friday morning.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.