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“Jordan’s defense to these three lawsuits is the same as his defense to the criminal charges — that he had nothing to do with their deaths,” Picerno said. “We’re just looking forward to a trial where we can get all the facts out in front of a jury.”

“Jordan denies the allegations in these lawsuits and is looking forward to a trial based on what actually happened as opposed to wild speculation,” Picerno said in a message to The Star Monday

“Jordan maintains that he is not responsible for purchasing or supplying the drugs that led to the deaths of his three friends. We are very much looking forward to the day a jury gets to hear all of the evidence in this case.”

We asked defense attorney John Picerno, not party to the case, about the legal distinction. He said it comes down to the fact Lester didn’t live long enough to be sentenced.

"I mean, she's traumatized," John Picerno, a Kansas City lawyer who represented Mitchell in the case, said. "That’s not an over exaggeration."

Those pardoned include more than 250 people who were convicted of assault charges, some having attacked police with makeshift weapons such as flagpoles, a hockey stick and a crutch. Many of the attacks were captured on surveillance or body camera footage that showed rioters engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police as officers desperately fought to beat back the angry crowd.

Marcus Arbery says, "holding the former prosecutor accountable is no less important than convicting the murderers because elected officials are supposed to serve everyone equally."

Since the investigation’s onset, Picerno has been vocal that Willis knew nothing about the men’s deaths.

"It's an awful thing when people have already presumed you're guilty without real evidence," Picerno said. "It's a tough row to hoe, and he's managing it as best he can."

Newton shot and killed two others and injured in another shooting on June 9, 2023. Newton was driving near East 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard when he saw a person on the driver’s side of a truck point a firearm out of the window toward a white van and drove off.