Ben McGowan, attorney for Alonzo "Butch" Grace, presents opening arguments in Judge Rebecca Stern's courtroom in the case of Robert "Brikk" Brown. Dexter Talley, Jr. and Alonzo "Butch" Grace have been charged in the 2009 killing.A jury will continue deliberating this morning in the murder trial of two Chattanooga men accused of killing local rapper Robert "Brikk" Brown.
Dexter L. Talley Jr., 31, and Alonzo "Butch" Grace, 43, face charges of first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery and attempted murder in the March 28, 2009, home invasion slaying.
Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern sent the jury home just before 6 p.m. Thursday after they had deliberated the entire day.
During closing arguments late Wednesday both sides pointed to testimony from Josquin Jackson, 45, who was shot during the home invasion.
Jackson testified Tuesday that Grace, Talley and four other men entered the residence and tried to tie up him and Brown with duct tape. He said Grace shot him and an unidentified man shot Brown in the chest and then shot Jackson in the face.
But Grace testified Wednesday he dropped his nephew, Talley, at home after a barbecue, then went to a crack house and on to the Webb Oaks Court apartment where Brown was staying to buy more crack cocaine.
Grace testified that two men in masks rushed into the apartment and shot him, Brown and Jackson.
Brown used the stage name "Brikk" -- a street reference to a cocaine quantity.
Brown, who grew up in the Piney Woods neighborhood, had recorded an album with a partner that included a track with nationally known rapper Lil' Wayne and had signed a contract with Jackson's label Black Ice Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.