Source: Al Pereira/Getty
Testimony at the trial of two men who allegedly murdered Jam Master Jay noted by a former drug dealer confirming that the icon was selling cocaine.
On Monday (Feb. 5), a jury in Brooklyn Federal Court heard tense and emotional testimony from three witnesses in Karl Jordan Jr.'s trial. and Ronald Washington, accused of murdering Hip-Hop icon Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC. The first of these witnesses, Ralph Mullgrav, was a friend of the DJ's and a former Baltimore drug dealer, who confirmed that Jam Master Jay was indeed selling cocaine. “Jay was not a drug dealer. I'm a drug dealer.” Mullgrav said on the stand.
Mullgrav testified that DJ approached him to sell cocaine he had procured – “maybe 1 or 2 kilos, here or there”. He also stated that Jam Master Jay “just used it to get by.” Mullgrav's testimony comes after he spent seven days in jail after being arrested on a material witness warrant, which is used to compel uncooperative witnesses to testify. Mullgrav also stated that Mizell had approached him in August 2002 asking him to sell 10 to 20 kilograms of cocaine in Baltimore. Mizell wanted to include Washington, but Mullgrav refused.
“I told him no,” Mullgrav said, citing a history bad blood with Washington. “Yes him [Washington] was a problem.” The deal fell through when Washington (also known as Tigard) showed up at a meeting instead of Mizell. “I went to the tire to get my gun,” he said, detailing how he hid a gun in the tire of a parked car. When the prosecutor asked what his next move was, he replied, “Shoot Tinard.” The prosecution argued that a key reason Jordan and Washington allegedly killed Jam Master Jay, also known as Jason Mizell, at a Jamaican, Queens recording studio on October 30, 2002, was because Mizell cut Washington off. from this agreement.
The revelation opened a full day of emotional testimony as Lydia High, Jam Master Jay's former business manager, took the stand next. High stated that Jordan and Washington were in the studio, trying to recount the details, but confirmed that “Jason smiled, smiled. He kind of gave the person a pound and that's when he said “Oh (expletive)!” I heard the gun. I screamed and jumped and ran, ran for the door.” Derrick Parker, the “Hip-Hop Cop,” also testified to close out the day.
