Jury deliberations begin in trial of man accused of murdering UM star Bryan Pata

Nearly two decades after the tragic killing of former University of Miami football player Bryan Pata, a South Florida jury began deliberations Thursday in the long-awaited murder trial of his former teammate.

The jurors are deciding the fate of Rashaun Jones, who is accused of fatally shooting Pata outside his southwest Miami-Dade apartment in November 2006.

Pata, who was found in a pool of blood near a parking lot outside his apartment, was 22 years old at the time and widely regarded as a rising football star with professional aspirations.

Despite the shocking nature of the crime, no arrest was made until 15 years later, in 2021. Prosecutors allege Jones, a former Hurricanes teammate, killed Pata out of jealousy over his success and popularity.

Defense attorneys have challenged the credibility of the state’s case, arguing investigators were under pressure to solve the high-profile murder and ultimately charged the wrong man. They emphasized the lack of direct physical evidence linking Jones to the crime.

Prosecutors acknowledged the case is largely circumstantial but urged jurors to rely on common sense when weighing the evidence.

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Jones has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.