Jury charges Green with manslaughter again

After an 11-day trial, Jason Green of Russellville was found guilty of manslaughter, possession of marijuana second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia.

This is the second time Green has faced these charges for an incident that happened in 2011. Franklin County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call Jan. 30, 2011, and found Green’s girlfriend Shay Nicole Ledlow shot dead from a gunshot wound to her mouth. At the time, Green claimed Ledlow shot herself after the two had been drinking and he dared her to do it.

Green was arrested on the scene, and an investigation took place that revealed discrepancies between Green’s story and evidence that was found.

According to Franklin County district attorney Joey Rushing, Green pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter as part of a settlement in February 2015 and was sentenced to 19 years. In 2017 Green appealed his case on the basis of ineffective counsel and sought to have his conviction set aside to instead proceed with a trial.

The judge granted him the Rule 32 petition, he received a new attorney, and he has waited ever since for the trial, which took place Jan. 14-29 of this year.

Rushing said that Green refused to plead guilty this time, but the jury still found him guilty of manslaughter.

“We’re glad the jury was able to reconcile all of the evidence and information, and we’re satisfied with the verdict,” Rushing said.

Green’s sentencing will be Feb. 25 at 8:30 a.m. Judge Terry Dempsey could give him 10-20 years for the manslaughter charge and up to one year each for the misdemeanor charges to run consecutively or concurrently.