The cases of a father accused of shaking his infant son to death and man accused of pushing an elderly man down a flight of stairs to his death will be among those considered by the grand jury this week.

The homicide cases against Jamaro South and Caleb Erves will be among the approximately 100 cases presented to the Warren County grand jury this week, District Attorney Ricky Smith said.

South, 29, who lists an address on China Street, was arrested Dec. 16 and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 6-month-old son, Jamaro Carter Jr.

Police have said the infant was shaken to death.

Degrees of murder entered Mississippi law in 2013, and first-degree murder is punishable by life in prison.
Previously, the law did not have murder separated by degrees but instead attached conditions such as “by depraved heart.”
State law defines first-degree murder as taking the life of another human being by “deliberate design” or unintentionally killing someone during the commission of certain felony crimes, such as child abuse.

Erves, whose age was not available, is accused of first-degree murder in the Feb. 23 death of 70-year-old Emanuel Erves.

Caleb Erves was in a dispute with Emanuel Erves shortly after midnight Feb. 23 when he pushed the 70-year-old down the stairs of a boarding house on Walnut Street, Vicksburg police Lt. Sandra Williams has said. Williams previously said the two are not related.

Emanuel Erves was taken to River Region Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The panel of 18 grand jurors was chosen this morning from a pool of about 250 registered voters and sworn in by presiding Judge Isadore Patrick. They will review about 100 criminal cases and issue indictments if there is enough evidence to go to trial. If indicted, defendants will be arraigned, or formally advised of the charges against them and given a trial date, beginning Friday in circuit court.

In addition to reviewing evidence in criminal cases, jurors will tour the Warren County Jail, Youth Court and Children’s Shelter and meet with Judge Johnny Price and other county officials. They will also prepare a report of recommendations for the Board of Supervisors.