Charlottesville, Virginia – The defense attorney known for successfully keeping Jesse Leroy Matthew off death row in the murders of Hannah Graham and Morgan Harrington will once again take on a high-profile case. This time, the attorney will be at the defense table representing a former University of Virginia student who is facing charges for killing three college football players. The trial is set to begin in January 2025.
Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. is facing three counts of aggravated murder for the shooting that took place in November 2022. Jones, who was a U.Va. student and a former member of the football team, allegedly opened fire on a charter bus carrying students back from a field trip to Washington, D.C. Three football players, Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry, and Devin Chandler, were killed in the incident. Another team member, Mike Hollins, and a student were wounded.
Defense attorney Doug Ramseur, who previously represented Jesse Matthew in the high-profile Charlottesville murder cases, spoke exclusively with WTOP about the upcoming trial. Ramseur revealed that the charges against Jones were initially second-degree murder, but were later increased by the Commonwealth’s attorney.
Ramseur emphasized the significance of the current case, stating that Jones is facing Virginia’s most serious murder charge, aggravated murder. If convicted, the only possible sentence for Jones would be life in prison without the possibility of parole.
When asked about potential jurors being influenced by his previous representation of Matthew, Ramseur acknowledged that Charlottesville residents had likely been exposed to extensive media coverage of the Graham and Harrington murders. However, he expressed confidence that jurors could decide the current case based solely on the evidence presented in the courtroom.
While Virginia abolished the death penalty for state cases, Ramseur continues to represent clients facing the death penalty in federal courts. He explained that murder is considered a state crime, and federal cases eligible for the death penalty do not include murder charges. Instead, these cases typically involve offenses such as terrorism, drug conspiracy, or robbery resulting in a death.
Ramseur’s approach remains consistent regardless of whether he is arguing in Virginia or federal courtrooms. He aims to provide context and tell the story of his clients’ lives beyond the worst day they are being accused of.
In conclusion, Ramseur’s involvement in the upcoming trial of Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., the former University of Virginia student accused of killing three college football players, has drawn attention due to his previous successful defense of Jesse Matthew in the Graham and Harrington murder cases. Ramseur’s experience and expertise will undoubtedly play a significant role in representing Jones in this high-profile trial.