A 41-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison on Aug. 27 after a jury found him guilty of murder with a firearm in the shooting death of55-year-old Darius "Mike" Duntel Jones in late September 2023.
Here's what we know:
What's the defendant's name and his charge? Joseph Edward Horrighs. He was charged with first-degree murder with a firearm.
Who were the judge and the lawyers? Circuit Judge Barbara Kissner Kwatkosky presided. The attorneys were Jonathan Mills for the defense and Assistant State Attorney Toby Hunt for the prosecution.
How long was the trial and how big was the jury? Three days, beginning on Aug. 25. There were 12 jurors, six men and six women.
How many pieces of evidence were submitted? Thirty-nine: 35 for the state and four for the defense.
What happened at trial? Hunt, in his opening statement, told the court that Horrighs brutally and senselessly murdered Jones in 2023.
He said Horrighs was upset that Jones drove from Summerfield, where he picked up the defendant and a woman and drove them to an Ocala Walmart. Horrighs thought Jones could've easily gone to the Walmart in Summerfield.
The plan was to steal items from the store, the prosecutor said.
At the Ocala Walmart, Horrighs abandoned the plan because there were too many law enforcement officials nearby. Leaving the store, the prosecutor said, there was an argument involving the occupants of the vehicle, resulting in the woman getting out.
Horrighs and Jones drove away and the defendant shot the victim six times, Hunt said. The shots were to the face, back of the head and stomach.
Defense attorney Mills did not make an opening statement at that time.
Twenty witnesses testified for the prosecution.
A recording of Marion County Sheriff's detectives interviewing Horrighs was played in court. In that interview, the defendant said he had no reason to shoot Jones.
He said he was agitated about going to the Ocala Walmart. He said when they left the Walmart, at some point he got out of the car, visited several places, then went home.
He denied having a firearm, and told detectives he would help them find the person who killed Jones.
Detectives never heard from Horrighs again, according to court testimony.
Prosecutor Hunt concluded his case on the second day of trial, Aug. 26.
The defense
On the third day, Aug. 27, the defense began the morning by asking for a judgment of acquittal, which is standard practice. The judge denied the request.
Mills provided a brief opening statement before putting on the defense case. He told jurors that Horrighs did not participate in the shooting. He said Horrighs will testify as to what happened on the day of the shooting.
During his testimony, Horrighs said he was high on methamphetamine on the day Jones was shot. He said he's a convicted felon and spent time in prison. Records show he has been in and out of prison from 2007 to 2023. He told the court every time he commits a crime, he runs.
Horrighs said he and the woman, who was in the car, wanted to go to Walmart to steal items. He said there was no reason to go to the Ocala Walmart because he doesn't know the area, which would be a problem if he needed to escape.
After leaving the Ocala Walmart he wanted to go home. Instead, he said, Jones wanted to go to a woman's residence.
In the car, the defendant said, he and the woman argued over his ex-girlfriend and she wanted to leave. When she got out, he said, Jones told him to get out as well, so he did.
Horrighs said the car stopped not far away and another man entered the vehicle. The defendant said he's not certain if he heard any gunshots. He said he eventually walked home.
Horrighs denied having a gun or shooting Jones.
Earlier in the trial, testifying for the prosecution, a man who was at the Marion County Jail with the defendant said Horrighs told him he shot Jones.
Horrighs testified that he never told the man he shot Jones.
Cross-examined by prosecutor Hunt, Horrighs conceded that he lies when it suits his purposes.
The prosecutor said Horrighs gave three versions of what happened at the time of the shooting. Hunt pointed out that Horrighs is specific on certain details, but lacks creditbility on information relating to the death.
Closing arguments
Prosecutor Hunt told jurors in his closing argument that the physical evidence leads to the defendant.
He said the victim's killing was premediated, citing the number of gunshots and witness testimony that Horrighs had said on numerous occasions that he wanted to kill Jones. He said DNA found on the shell casings and holster connect the defendant to the crime.
Defense attorney Mills, in his closing argument, said sheriff's deputies left too many gaps in their investigation.
For example, he said someone called 911 to report a suspicious person near the crime scene. He said deputies never followed up on that report.
Another example: A K-9 tracked to a nearby residence, but no one followed up on that lead.
He said Horrighs cooperated with detectives and didn't run away even though he knew he was a person of interest when he was released on an unrelated charge.
As for the jail inmate who testified for the state: The defense said the man is telling prosecutors what they want to hear because he faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. He's hoping for a deal.
In rebuttal, prosecutor Hunt said law enforcement can't just search someone's residence without a warrant. Hunt said the details provided by the inmate were things only know by the killer.
Deliberations
The 12 jurors left the courtroom at 1:22 p.m. Aug. 27 to deliberate. They had three questions at 2:38 p.m. When did the jail inmate who testified for the state enter the jail? When was Horrighs arrested and jailed in this case?
The third question concerned a missing firearm that the state contend was used in the shooting.
Jurors returned to the back at 3:05 p.m. Roughly 10 minutes later, jurors let a bailiff know they had reached a unanimous verdict.
The court clerk read the verdict aloud at 3:30 p.m.
Family and friends who were present during the trial had nothing to say when asked by the court if they wanted to make a comment.
After he was sentenced, Horrighs told family and friends he loved them.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Life in prison for man convicted of first-degree murder
