People v. Takais Brown — First-Degree Murder — Not Guilty

First Degree Murder – MCL 750.316 – Not Guilty (Jury)

People in the Flint community were shocked when Takais Brown, a 6-foot-8 former University of Georgia basketball standout and professional player in Europe, was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and home invasion. Brown was facing life in prison without parole if convicted.

He was found with the victim’s watches in his pocket and the alleged murder weapon in his apartment, and he initially gave inconsistent statements to police about their origin.

The trial lasted 23 days. The prosecution presented hundreds of exhibits and numerous witnesses in an effort to convict him. Attorney Carl Jordan called a single witness — a man who lived near the victim’s home. The witness testified that he heard gunshots and saw someone fleeing the scene: a tall, skinny man with a distinctively pointed head. He stated clearly that he knew Takais Brown from high school, and the man he saw running was not Brown.

After closing arguments, the jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning a verdict of Not Guilty. Brown was released after spending nearly two years in the Genesee County Jail awaiting trial.