Three Greeleyville brothers who were tried jointly and convicted for the 2002 murders of Joe Woods and Jimmy Robinson were tried again in Third Circuit Court last week. Jason Sinatra Edwards, Maceo Edwards and Jonais Edwards were accused of the double homicide that occurred after an alleged dispute over money. At the 2006 trial, Jason Edwards alleged that Woods owed him money and he went by Woods home to get the money. Woods was found mortally wounded inside the house and witnesses said Edwards chased Robinson outside before shooting him. Edwards claimed that he was stabbed by Robinson and shot the victims in self-defense.
Jason and Maceo Edwards were found guilty of murder and Jonais Edwards of accessory after the fact. Jason Edwards was serving life in prison, and Maceo Edwards was serving 30 years. Jonais Edwards received a seven-year sentence and was paroled in 2009.
In 2009, the state Supreme Court overturned all three convictions ruling that prosecutors should not have been allowed to throw out the first jury picked in case.
On January 31, Judge J. Mark Hayes presided over the retrial. The victim’s family members were present during the trial. Jonais Edwards and Maceo entered a plea of accessory after the fact. Both received a time served sentence. Jason Edwards plead guilty to two counts of voluntary manslaughter, which is a lesser-included offence of murder. He received a 30-year sentence. “We believe their (Jonais and Maceo) sentences were appropriate, under the circumstances,” said Assistant Solicitor, Kim Barr. “We just hope it brings a measure of justice and healing for the family.” According to Barr, both the victims and the defendants were from a general area of Greeleyville. “Apparently everyone knew each other,” said Barr. “Families were close so it devastated the community when the murders happened and when it was revealed who was responsible.” Prior to sentencing, Jason Edwards apologized to the victim’s family. “It was a very emotional case,” said Barr who at that time was assistant to lead prosecutor Ronnie Sabb. “A very long journey.”