MEMPHIS, Tenn. –There are new developments in two high-profile Memphis cases.
A Memphis man accused of three rapes has been granted bond and he has been told to surrender his passport.
A $3 million dollar bond has been granted for Mark Giannini.
The rape charges involve a woman in 2002, and the others in 2013 and 2014.
Giannini was recently arrested in Florida and extradited to Memphis.
Also happening now, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office has recused itself from the new trial for Noura Jackson.
Also, a bond hearing for Jackson was delayed for 30 days.
Convicted of second-degree murder in 2009, Jackson reportedly stabbed her mother more than 50 times.
The Tennessee Supreme Court said Jackson deserves a new trial because D.A. Amy Weirich, who was the lead prosecutor, violated Jackson’s right to due process by not turning over a key witness’s statement to the defense.
The court also ruled the Weirich’s comments on Jackson exercising her right to remain silent and not testify were impermissible.
Jackson’s attorneys asked Friday for an earlier bond hearing but the judge said the situation was not an emergency and set a report date for March 13.
Weirich released the following statement:
“While this office has not been disqualified to proceed with the prosecution of St. v. Noura Jackson, I have decided to request the Tennessee District Attorney Generals Conference to appoint a Pro Tem to handle the prosecution of this case. Jennifer Jackson and her family and friends deserve to have this matter proceed in the courts without the distraction of our office’s involvement. I am making this decision in the interest of justice for Jennifer Jackson.”
