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Jury being selected in 2017 Port Arthur murder case where some evidence was dismissed

His attorney Mr. Ryan Gertz was granted a motion to suppress certain evidence from being used in the trial because of the way Port Arthur Police gathered it.

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — The jury is being picked this week for a man accused of killing another man at a Port Arthur apartment complex in 2017, although some initial evidence in the case was dismissed. 

Diante Burrell is accused of killing Javonte Jack at Avery Trace Apartments in Port Arthur in 2017. 

His attorney Mr. Ryan Gertz was granted a motion to suppress certain evidence from being used in the trial because of the way Port Arthur Police gathered the evidence in the case. 

A judge agreed with the defense that the search of Burrell's home and portions of his interrogation were not done correctly.

The defense claimed Port Arthur police officers were trespassing because they approached Burrell's home from the back door. Three officers were there during the initial approach.

Detective Lakeisha Thomas said they went to the home based on an anonymous tip that Burrell and two others were involved in the murder. The tip claimed they had left the scene in a white car.

Thomas went to the home by herself, saw three individuals and a white car matching the description, and called for back up. Thomas said at that point she had reasonable suspicion.  Thomas said she was joined by two more officers. 

She and one other officer went to the back door, while a third waited to the side of the home near the front door. Before they could knock on the back door, Burrell ran out through the front of the house.

The case is being tried in 252nd District Judge Raquel West's court. 

RELATED: Defense attorney working to keep evidence from 2017 Port Arthur murder out of court

RELATED: Suspect in fatal Tuesday night shooting at Port Arthur apartment complex claims self-defense

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