Who killed UM football player Bryan Pata? Major twist as trial for accused killer was set to begin

The long-awaited murder trial in the killing of former University of Miami football player Bryan Pata hit another unexpected delay after new information was raised in court.

On Tuesday, nearly 20 years after Pata, the former Hurricanes defensive lineman was gunned down outside his southwest Miami-Dade apartment, jurors were set to begin hearing evidence in the case against Rashaun Jones, a former teammate charged 15 years after the killing.

But before opening statements could begin, defense attorneys told the court they had received new reports that they argued raised questions about the police investigation that they hoped could be presented to jurors. 

Pata, 22, was shot and killed in November 2006 outside his Kendall-area home. For more than a decade, the case remained unsolved. But in 2021, authorities arrested Jones, alleging a witness saw him near the murder scene. 

Nearly two decades after University of Miami football player Bryan Pata was shot and killed outside his Kendall apartment, the man who police say is responsible has rejected a plea deal, and the case now proceeds to trial. 

On Tuesday, defense attorney Christian Maroni argued that investigators failed to fully explore alternative suspects and possible gang involvement in the murder. Maroni referenced a Homeland Security report that included information from a confidential informant implicating a man identified as Wilner Yacinth in Pata’s killing.

“That Yacinth has been implicated by a reliable informant to be responsible for the highly publicized 2007 murder of University of Miami football player Bryan Pata. Special agent Maribel stated this informant has been proven to be very reliable,” Maroni said.

Maroni told the court jurors should be allowed to hear the HSI reports information as part of Jones’ defense regarding a potential hitman and alternative suspects. He argued that not doing so would violate his client’s due process rights.

Additionally, they brought up how police also never looked into an alleged gang involvement in the murder. Police “never interviewed as far as their reports indicate anybody who was involved in the gang,” Maroni said.

State attorney Cristina Diamond pushed back, stating the “new” reports were all based on speculation and claimed that police ruled out any suspects. Additionally, they claimed Pata was not affiliated with gangs. 

At the end of Tuesday’s unexpected long hearing, Judge Cristina Miranda did not officially rule on whether she will allow the defense to question witnesses about the alleged confession and the new information that came in. However, the judge has previously denied any mention of alleged confessions to be let into trial, citing a lack of validity.

This time, the judge gave all parties until Wednesday to bring in any new information. 

On Wednesday morning, the judge is expected to clear up any outstanding requests, with opening statements expected to begin right after.