Crime & Courts

Photos: Emotions run high as jury begins deliberating in Precious Alex murder trial

More than three years after 15-year-old Anchorage teenager Precious Alex was shot and killed while sleeping in bed at home, attorneys on Thursday made their final arguments to the jury, who will decide whether two men charged with her murder are guilty.

Jamal Townsend and Lammar Burney are charged with murder in the first and second degrees, misconduct involving weapons and assault in the second degree.

Alex's mother, Demetra Alex, and other relatives and friends of the slain teenager sat through the closing arguments. One woman wore a sweatshirt with pictures of Alex and the words "Nea Nea" on it, which was Alex's nickname.

During the beginning of his arguments, prosecutor James Klugman held up a window riddled with six bullet holes. A woman in the audience began to cry.

Alex was shot and killed on April 1, 2014, while in sleeping in bed at her home in Mountain View. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being shot twice, once in the leg and once in the abdomen.

A third defendant in the case, Karlie West, was driving the car that night. She was charged with manslaughter and already sentenced earlier in 2017.

West gave key testimony as a witness and informant in the case. Questions revolved around what actions each men took that night, and whether only one or each was responsible for planning and carrying out the shooting.

Now, the jury will consider the evidence and charges to come up with a verdict in the case.

Laurel Andrews

Laurel Andrews was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in October 2018.

Loren Holmes

Loren Holmes is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News. Contact him at loren@adn.com.

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