OXFORD, Miss.–The jury in the murder trial of Timothy Herrington, of Grenada, in the murder of Jimmy “Jay” Lee, of Jackson, a student at Ole Miss, was brought to Oxford from Forrest County.
“You can’t go on speculation. You can’t go on suspicion, guess work, wondering,” said Herrington’s defense attorney Kevin Horan, during opening arguments. Lee went missing July 8, 2022. His body was never found.
Horan told the jury there was no proof Lee had been murdered.
Prosecutors say Herrington searched for how long it takes to strangle someone. Horan dismissed that in his argument. They also say Herrington wanted to cover up a sexual relationship between he and Lee, who was openly gay and had used apps for hook-ups.
“I submit to you, ladies and gentleman, this conversation or this search…we don’t have any context what that may be about,” he said.
Police say video shows Herrington near where Lee’s car was found, and that he had obtained a shovel and wheelbarrow.
Lee’s mother, Stephanie Lee, testified she knew Lee was missing when he did not call her that morning. He texted her around 2 a.m. to tell her happy birthday. She and her husband went out of town on a planned trip.
“Him knowing that I’m up, the first thing that he’s gonna do is ‘hey, Mama it’s your birthday. Happy birthday, Mama. I love you!” Lee said he sang to her every year. “During the trip I told my husband, this is not normal. Jay would’ve called.”
The day’s testimony concluded shortly before 5, the jury having heard from friends who had talked with Lee in the days prior to his disappearance.
