Crime

Trial for two Kansas City brothers accused of murdering Olathe rapper postponed

By Robert A. Cronkleton

bcronkleton@kcstar.com
During the jury selection process for brothers Dale and James Willis, the counsel for James Willis withdrew. In a subsequent scheduling hearing Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, Dale Willis (from left) appeared with attorneys Dan Ross and Craig Divine at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe. The Willises are charged with first-degree murder in the September shooting death of rapper Jurl Carter, 24, outside The Roxy, an Overland Park bar. The judge released the jury; selection for Dale Willis' trial is scheduled for Aug. 22.
During the jury selection process for brothers Dale and James Willis, the counsel for James Willis withdrew. In a subsequent scheduling hearing Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, Dale Willis (from left) appeared with attorneys Dan Ross and Craig Divine at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe. The Willises are charged with first-degree murder in the September shooting death of rapper Jurl Carter, 24, outside The Roxy, an Overland Park bar. The judge released the jury; selection for Dale Willis' trial is scheduled for Aug. 22. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com

The jury trial for two Kansas City brothers accused of killing an Olathe man last September at an Overland Park bar was postponed Tuesday morning.

Johnson County District Judge Thomas Kelly Ryan sent the pool of prospective jurors home, saying the trial would be held at a later date.

Dale M. Willis, 33, and James A. Willis, 28, are charged in Johnson County District Court with first-degree murder in the death of Jurl Carter, 24, as he attempted to drive from the parking lot of Jim Kilroy’s Roxy Bar in the 7100 block of West 75th Street.

Carter, who performed under the names Yunglyfe Carter and Bo Boogy, was an aspiring rapper.

Dale Willis, a rapper who is known as Poppa Willo, is president of Duced Out Records, based in Kansas City.

Separate trials were ordered for the two brothers after the attorney for James Willis withdrew from the case this week.

Dale Willis’ trial will move forward with jury selection from a new pool of prospective jurors on Aug. 22. A new trial date has not been set for James Willis.

Robert A. Cronkleton: 816-234-4261, @cronkb

This story was originally published August 9, 2016 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Trial for two Kansas City brothers accused of murdering Olathe rapper postponed."

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