New trial in Syracuse handyman murder underway after last jury deadlocked at 11-1

Syracuse, NY -- The last Onondaga County jury to hear murder evidence against Lynnquan Kellam ended deadlocked after three days, 11 to 1.

This week, a second jury begins to hear the case against Kellam, 28, who is accused of shooting Arthur Bullock, 54, to death May 31, 2013 on Bullock's front porch at 142 Fage Ave. Bullock was shot in the head during a robbery and died at Upstate University Hospital.

Kellam, who was on the porch, says he was not the shooter, but another victim of the actual robber. But prosecutor Melinda McGunnigle counter that an eyewitness saw Kellam pull the trigger and that others corroborated the witness's story.

The last jury remained deadlocked, 6-6, on the second day of deliberations in August. That changed to 11-1 by the end of the day.

But the panel could never reach a unanimous verdict. County Court Judge Joseph Fahey excused them on the third day.

Defense lawyer Don Kelly argued during the first trial that the witnesses colluded against Kellam to protect the true shooter's identity.

That jury was left with little physical evidence pointing to Kellam as the gunman. Forensic tests did not link him to the crime.

Syracuse police described Bullock as a handyman who came onto the porch to defend his friends. But evidence showed that a crowd had come to Bullock's house that night to buy drugs. He stumbled upon the robbery while leaving his house, Kelly has said.

Testimony in the retrial continues today.

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New trial in Syracuse handyman murder underway after last jury deadlocked at 11-1