Accused Killer Found Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity

(Hernando, MS) Last year, police arrested Jelani Greene for the brutal murder of his girlfriend China Jones, in Olive Branch, MS.

Today, a judge found him not guilty and could have set him free after experts found him insane, and not a further threat to the community.

It came after angry rants on Facebook and Greene’s arrest walking down the street naked after the murder.

Jones’ mother was devastated, ”I think that it’s wrong” she explained.

The murdered woman’s sister, Crystal, spoke for the whole family, ”No matter what this decision is, that won’t bring her back, but it does not make it fair”.

Here’s the problem: Because both defense and prosecution experts diagnosed Greene as “insane,” Mississippi law demands he be declared not guilty, and possibly even set free without restriction.

The District Attorney has two words for it ”Incredibly rare” said John Champion.

He says his hands are tied, because the law forbids trial and punishment of the insane, ”Basically as far as our part of the case is concerned, it’s over with. Because once someone’s been found to be insane, the decision has to be made by the court whether or not he needs to be institutionalized.”

Champion favors a change in State law to protect the public.

That’s something the Jones family says they’ll take on as their crusade, ”I don’t like it, no. I actually don’t like it but the fact of the matter that’s what the law is, and it’s the law in a lot of states”.

Judge Gerald Chattam ordered Greene to the State mental hospital at Whitfield to determine if he’s a threat to the public.

”No family should have to experience what we are being put through again” said Crystal Jones.

The Jones family said its fight has only just begun.

They say they’ll be watching Jelani Greene for the rest of his life, as they fight to get changes in Mississippi law.