Family Supports Suspect In Parents Murder
Video from a horrific murder scene was shown, Friday, as the medical examiner testified in the Jabalee murder trial. In Macomb County court, a jury will decide if a man beat and stabbed his parents to death.
Ronald Jabalee Jr. silently watched as a 15-minute video was played in court, showing the garage where his parents were killed.
Behind him, family members wiped away tears.
Jabalee is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of 58-year-olds Ronald and Christine Jabalee in 2006.
Medical Examiner Daniel Spitz testified, "Christine Jabalee suffered, again, very similar wounding patterns, multiple scalp lacerations, minimum of seven."
Spitz further testified that the blows that killed the couple were delivered with significant force. No murder weapon was found.
WWJ's Marie Osborne spoke with Ryan Jabalee who said he is convinced his brother did not kill their parents, despite testimony that Ronald told an uncle that he may have and that he wasn't sure.
"I mean he just felt overwhelmed at the time, because maybe they didn't have any [suspects] at that time. So, it was just hard on him, but people make mistakes with words all the time," he said.
Ryan Jabalee said his entire family, in fact, believes his brother is innocent. He said he and his brother both felt his father was an integral part of their family business at Eastern Market.
The loss of their father is felt daily, he said, as his sales were critical for their meat market business.
When asked about how he feels being asked to testify for the prosecution, Ryan Jabalee said he feels more like he is testifying on behalf of his parents.
Ryan is scheduled to testify next week.
Part of the evidence against 42-year-old Ronald Jabalee Jr. is based on a mysterious message in blood on his parents' garage floor.
He lives in Clinton Township and remains free on bond.
(Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio. All Rights Reserved.)
