Jury acquits Jada Kelly on aggravated DUI charges in 2023 crash that killed two sisters

HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – Jada Kelly has been found not guilty on both remaining counts of aggravated DUI in Hinds County Circuit Court.

Kelly was facing three counts of aggravated DUI for a car crash in January 2023.

Sisters Azure Higgins and Valerie Lynch were killed, and another man was severely injured during the crash.

Judge Debra Gibbs said Monday that the state had not provided enough evidence to prove that the driver of the other vehicle, Toney Payne, was affected by the crash, so the third count was dismissed.

On Tuesday, closing arguments ended, and deliberations started.

Family members were emotional as the judge delivered the verdicts, with some leaving the courtroom.

The verdict came after both the defense and the state used their entire 40 minutes during closing arguments.

The state pointed to the breathalyzer, eyewitness testimony and Kelly’s blood alcohol level of 0.18.

“Those women are gone, gone, because of a woman’s decision to get behind the wheel while she was intoxicated and speed down an intersection and run a red light,” Prosecutor Carrie Jourdan said during closing arguments.

The defense focused on the driver of the vehicle, Toney Payne, arguing that the victims were not showing up in the surveillance footage, and the lack thereof.

“They’re supposed to get the information on the scene. She needs it to defend herself. The police are supposed to gather it,” Kelly’s attorney Dennis Sweet said.

The jury sided with the defense, acquitting Kelly of all charges.

Kelly was emotional and embraced her family after the verdict was read.

If Kelly had been found guilty, she would have faced 75 years in prison.

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