INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Sentencing day has been delayed for one of the alleged suspects in the Amanda Blackburn murder case.
Jalen Watson agreed a deal to avoid harsher punishment. He had hoped to finalize his agreement with prosecutor in court Friday afternoon during a sentencing hearing.
The 24-year-old suspect now has a new sentencing date that won’t happen until next year.
Jalen Watson's family left the courtroom upset that his sentencing didn’t happened as planned earlier this year. They're not the only ones who showed up for sentencing.
Amanda's widow, Davey Blackburn, also attended the hearing.
“I have no comments today," Davey Blackburn said.
Jalen Watson agreed to plead guilty to robbery and burglary in the Blackburn case.
He will give prosecutors details about who did what in the murder of Amanda Blackburn.
“Part of his plea agreement requires him to testify in subsequent and future procedures and we are not to that point yet,” Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
In 2015, Watson admits to being one of three men who entered the Blackburns’ home just after 6 a.m.
Husband Davey had already left for the gym.
Investigators learned that Davey left the door unlocked which was reportedly not unusual.
During the alleged attack, Amanda, pregnant at the time, struggled with her attacker and did not survive getting shot during.
Watson agreed to testify against the actual alleged shooter to avoid being charged with murder.
But in court Friday afternoon, prosecutors wanted to better secure Watson's testimony before signing off on the lesser charges.
“The judge was kind enough to push his sentencing hearing out so we would have the opportunity to take his statement in a more formal setting and that would allow us to move forward with all of the cases, " Mears said.
According to prosecutors, Watson names Larry Taylor, Jr. as the actual triggerman.
Another suspect in the case has already struck a similar deal in exchange for testimony.
Jalen Watson has a new sentencing date for February 22, 2019.
The new sentencing hearing date does not impact the plea as it was already entered by the Court.
