Jury in murder trial to continue deliberations Monday

The jury in the murder trial for Jack Raymond Yancey, who’s accused of fatally stabbing a man in September, will resume deliberations Monday.

Yancey, 58, of Vancouver faces a charge of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the death of Gary L. Adams, 50, on Sept. 24 in downtown Vancouver’s Hough neighborhood.

Arguments wrapped up Thursday afternoon in Clark County Superior Court, after which the jury began deliberations. The jury had not reached a verdict as of 5 p.m. Friday and was sent home for the weekend.

The defense argued that Judge Robert Lewis should have kept the jury until it reached a decision. Yancey’s attorney, Michael Foister Sr., said he is concerned members of the jury may seek out media coverage of the trial or other resources to help them reach a decision.

Deputy Prosecutor Michael Vaughn said keeping the jury late on Friday would be a deliberate attempt to pressure members into making a decision.

Judge Lewis denied the defense’s motions, saying there’s no reason to believe any jury members have violated his orders to refrain from looking at media coverage.