Former Miami Hurricanes football player Rashaun Jones pleads not guilty in killing ex-teammate Bryan

MIAMI -- Former University of Miami football player Rashaun Jones pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of killing a teammate outdoor a South Florida apartment advanced in 2006.

An lawyer for Jones, 35, entered the plea right through a far flung courtroom hearing after prosecutors officially filed second-degree homicide charges towards him.

Jones, who was arrested last month, was once long suspected in the death of Bryan Pata, 22. Jones was once originally arrested on a first-degree murder price, and prosecutors mentioned he may just nonetheless face that price. But to indict him on that charge, prosecutors would have to present the case to a grand jury.

Pata used to be expected to be an early pick out in the 2007 NFL draft following his fourth and final season with the Hurricanes. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound (1.9-meter, 127-kilogram) defensive lineman was once shot and killed out of doors his Kendall condominium the evening of Nov. 7, 2006.

Some witnesses claimed to hear arguing and then gunshots. Despite Pata having hundreds of bucks in his pockets, neither his automobile nor the cash were taken, police mentioned.

Investigators said they learned thru a large number of interviews that Pata and Jones, who performed three seasons with the Hurricanes, had skilled confrontations earlier than the capturing. Pata up to now beat his teammate all through a struggle, officials stated. And Pata's brother informed investigators that Jones had threatened to shoot Pata two months earlier than his dying. Despite the urging of his brother, Pata by no means reported the threat.

During two interviews with detectives, Jones told investigators that he was once at his own residence and never left on the night time of Pata's demise. But information show that Jones' mobile phone used to be the use of different mobile towers across the time of the shooting, government said. And an eyewitness in the realm on the time of the capturing recognized Jones in a photograph lineup, police said.

Information from the Associated Press used to be used in this file

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