Fresno man killed hours after being released from jail on a technicality

FRESNO, Calif. (KABC) -- A burglary defendant was killed about an hour after being released from a Fresno jail on a technicality Thursday morning.

Bobby Pearson, 37, was allegedly stabbed to death. He had been on trial in a burglary case that resulted in a hung jury Wednesday. The jury couldn't reach a unanimous decision when it came to Pearson, but two-thirds of them thought he was guilty.

Judge Kent Hamlin said he informed the jury that if they couldn't reach a unanimous decision, they should send him a note and not sign any verdict forms. The jury, however, mistakenly signed a not guilty form, forcing his release.

"That instruction, I don't know if it was overlooked or misunderstood, but it had been explained," said Linden Lindahl, defense attorney for Terrel Minnieweather, the other defendant in the burglary trial.

Hamlin said he had not choice but to order Pearson to be released from jail because the verdict had already been recorded.

Upon his release around midnight, Pearson went to the home of his sister, Lasandra Jackson, to get some clothing and belongings when he got into a fight with Jackson's boyfriend, 35-year-old Willie Gray. The two allegedly had a history of problems and personal issues.

Fresno police Chief Jerry Dryer says investigators believe Gray killed Pearson. He was found laying in the road in the area of Dayton and West avenues just before 1 a.m. suffering from a chest wound from a knife or gun and a cut on his stomach. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center where he died from his wounds shortly after arriving.

Gray was arrested by Fresno police about one mile away from the murder scene. He was treated for injuries to his hands and booked on suspicion of murder.

William Terrence, who prosecuted the case says despite the bizarre chain of events that led to Pearson's release, the man he tried sending to prison didn't deserve to die that way.

"There's not a death penalty on a burglary," Terrence said. "I'm not sitting here thinking he got what he deserved."

Terrence said he is still trying to understand the jury's confusion. He said he explained the verdict forms in closing arguments, as so did the judge.

KFSN-TV and The Associated Press contributed to this report.