Detroit in Black and White: Defense Attorney Brian Brown Talks About the Samantha Woll Murder Trial

Co-hosts Adolph Mongo, Vanessa Moss, Allan Lengel and Jim Nardone talk with Brian Brown, the defense attorney for Michael Jackson-Bolanos, who was charged in the murder last year of downtown Detroit synagogue President Samantha Woll.

He talks about the trial, the judge, the sentence, the confession by the ex-boyfriend and what he saw as the shortcomings of the police investigation. He also talks about the impact the case has had on his practice. 

Jackson-Bolanos, 29, was acquitted by the Wayne County Circuit Court jury on charges of first-degree premeditated murder or second-degree murder. The jury deadlocked on the charges of felony murder and first-degree home invasion, and the judge subsequently dropped those charges, saying the factual allegations were similar to the counts Jackson-Balanos was acquitted of. 

Jackson-Bolanos was convicted of lying to investigators and was sentenced to 18 months to 15 years. He was given credit for 243 days served and is likely to be released by early next year.