UPDATE:
HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) - William "Polo" Edwards was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Better Men Society founder Robert Davis. He was also found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Hinds County deputies put Edwards in handcuffs after the verdict was read to the court.
Davis' family, prosecutors, and community members gathered outside the courtroom doors to pray.
“I'm just really, really grateful that this part of our journey is over. Now we can get get on to healing for my family," said Jo Weaver, Davis' sister.
Edwards will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17.
HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) - Jury deliberations are underway in the retrial of the man accused of killing a local community activist in 2022.
William “Polo” Edwards has been charged in the death of Better Men Society founder Robert Davis.
On Thursday, December 12, the defense called more witnesses to the stand, including Attorney Dennis Sweet, who has been practicing law for 42 years.
Sweet testified that he received a call from Edwards on May 1, 2022, which was the day Edwards allegedly killed Davis at Shadow Robinson's Clinton home. Sweet told the court that he was in a trial in Aberdeen when Edwards called and that Edwards wanted help turning himself in to authorities.
The defense rested its case Thursday morning, while the state rested its case on Wednesday, December 11. Both sides delivered their closing arguments on Thursday.
Prosecutors used surveillance video from Funtime Skateland of Clinton and Ring doorbell camera video to illustrate what happened leading up to the death of Davis, as well as the aftermath.
Greg Jones, a former detective with the Clinton Police Department, was one of the two lead investigators in the case. He received a warrant to search Edwards’ Jackson apartment after Davis was shot and killed at Robinson’s home.
The Ring video from Edwards’ apartment raised flags, according to the state. Footage allegedly showed Edwards holding a black item in his hands as he walked down the hallway. The state said the item was a gun. The video was allegedly from April 30, 2022, which was one day before the shooting.
However, the defense fired back and asked the judge to strike the use of the video, because the state cannot prove authentication of the date and time.
The state said the surveillance video from Funtime Skateland placed Edwards close to where the crime occurred. In the video, a black pickup truck could be seen driving by just minutes after the shooting.
Edwards was arrested in connection to the case after a chase in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 3, 2022. He was indicted for murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm in Hinds County. Edwards pled not guilty.
Edwards’ first trial ended with a mistrial in August 2023.