GREENVILLE — From the day Sgt. Conley Jumper was killed along Interstate 85 when attempting to make an arrest, the guy accused of murder in his dying had refused the enable of a protection attorney.
Ray Kelly, a New York indigenous on trial now for murder in the Greenville County Sheriff’s deputy’s loss of life two several years back, questioned the authority of the court. Detention officers introduced him to the courtroom strapped and shackled to a wheelchair after he before flailed about as detention officer introduced him just before the choose.
Then it arrived time to inquire issues in the to start with day of his demo in Greenville County courtroom on Sept. 26.
The place Kelly’s reaction to practically any concern up until finally that position experienced been “I item to these proceedings,” he instantly requested to converse to his defense lawyer when it arrived time to cross take a look at a deputy who wept on the witness stand as graphic video performed exhibiting the instant the 28-12 months sheriff’s deputy veteran was mortally wounded, dragged alongside the interstate and pinned towards an 18-wheeler.
Circuit Choose Ned Miller named a late-afternoon halt to the demo as general public defender Mindy Lipinski, who had sat on standby as the proceedings unfolded, asked for a mistrial so that she could produce a protection technique.
Miller gave her till right away.
“You are the shopper from now on,” Miller instructed Kelly, who immediately after the ask for to converse to his lawyer was permitted to walk into court docket relatively than be wheeled in. “And you will not get to make arguments, and you really don’t get to make motions. It is really up to your law firm to do it. Is that apparent?”
“Indeed,” Kelly responded.


The trial will proceed Sept. 27 with Sheriff’s Grasp Deputy Jesse Wasserman, who was the initially witness and explained the Oct. 20, 2020, end on I-85 in the vicinity of the White Horse Street exit that ended fatally.
In his testimony, Wasserman explained how he, Jumper and a different deputy served on what is termed an “interdiction drive,” which patrols the interstate with a concentrate on earning drug-connected stops.
The deputies glance for the smallest indicators of suspicion, these kinds of as somebody driving with equally fingers “10 and 2” on the steering wheel rather of the normal a single hand or a driver supplying “a thousand yard stare,” Wasserman testified.
In the situation of Kelly, they saw a Nissan Altima going a lot more than 20 miles above the speed restrict and tailgating other automobiles.
Video clip performed in courtroom confirmed the prevent and Kelly telling Wasserman that he was touring from out of point out and thought he was touring shut to the pace limit. Kelly explained to the deputy he failed to have a driver’s license to present and gave a false identify.
Wasserman questioned Kelly and a passenger. Immediately after smelling marijuana from the auto, he told Kelly deputies were being going to search it. Kelly objected and began to pull away. Wasserman grabed him as deputies, which include Jumper, commenced to struggle as Kelly attempted to push the motor vehicle absent.
The wrestle was specially perilous, Wasserman testified, due to the fact Kelly experienced parked close to the white line that separates the highway shoulder from traffic, which Wasserman reported is a tactic that persons who are breaking the legislation do to make regulation enforcement awkward standing so shut to rushing cars and trucks.


If the deputies had extra space absent from visitors, they would have been in a position to subdue, he stated.
Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins, who is prosecuting the circumstance, asked Wasserman what took place subsequent.
“The worst fight of my lifestyle,” he responded.
The video clip showed Jumper and Kelly struggling within the driver aspect as the vehicle sped into website traffic with Jumper partially uncovered outdoors. The car then collided with an 18-wheeler, pinning Jumper among the truck and the car or truck. In the video clip, Wasserman rushed above to see Jumper folded on the roadside and explained to him to continue to be nevertheless.
Testimony will continue with protection thoughts of Wasserman.
Eventually, authorities reported they observed four bags of crack cocaine inside of a laundry bag crammed with men’s and women’s clothing goods.
At the time of his arrest, Kelly was detailed as a fugitive in Suffolk County, Va.
Jumper’s demise prompted regulation enforcement from throughout the state and Gov. Henry McMaster to journey to Greenville to go to his funeral at the Bons Secours Wellness Arena.
Sheriff Hobart Lewis, who explained the 6-foot-4 Jumper as a “mild huge,” posthumously promoted him from master deputy to sergeant.
Kelly is also on demo for charges including drug trafficking, resisting arrest, assault and several visitors violations.
Stick to Eric on Twitter at @cericconnor.
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