Juror in Kenan Gay trial does not regret not guilty verdict

A juror in the Kenan Gay trial spoke to Eyewitness News Saturday. Twenty-year old Lacey King asked that her face not be shown during the interview, but she agreed to let the public know how she made her decision. 

She and 11 others listened to three weeks of testimony. Prosecutors said Gay pushed a drunken Robert Kingston out the front door of Ed's Tavern in Dilworth and into the street, where he was hit by a car.

They argued Gay was angry, because Kingston had allegedly made a pass at his girlfriend. Prosecutors asked the jury to convict Gay of second-degree murder, or involuntary manslaughter.

King said arguments on both sides were strong, but she believed Gay's testimony. She also said a field trip the jury took to Ed's Tavern showed her how easy it would have been for Kingston to stumble into the street on his own.

"That's where our doubt came in. We knew what happened inside, we did not know what happened outside," said King.

She said ultimately that doubt caused her and the other jurors to let Gay walk free. 

"When it came down to it we had to look at reasonable doubt and we didn't know beyond a reasonable doubt what happened that night."

Read past coverage:

• Kenan Gay acquitted of all charges in Dilworth bar murder trial
• Gay gives tearful testimony; Jury brought to Ed's Tavern
• Ex-football player accused of murder takes stand in own defense
• Judge does not dismiss murder charge in Kenan Gay trial
• Defense says man's death outside Dilworth bar was accident, not murder
• Former UNC football player charged with murder after deadly bar fight
• Trial to start for former football player accused of murder after bar fight
• Jury hears opening statements in bar fight murder trial
• Defense questions witness' credibility in bar fight murder trial
• Bouncer testifies in bar fight murder trial Tuesday

WSOC