In the middle of a Dallas County murder trial, a mistrial was declared and a plea agreement was reached in the 2019 death of a 9-year-old girl.
Court records show 24-year-old Tyrese Simmons pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the shooting death of 9-year-old Brandoniya Bennett.
Simmons was charged with murder, accused of firing into the wrong East Dallas apartment and killing Bennett in 2019. Dallas police said Simmons was in a fight with another so-called rapper and mistook the apartment for his rival's.
Crucial witnesses evidently changed their stories, causing the mistrial.
Defense lawyer Josh Healy says it was a fair sentence for a five-year old case.
District Attorney John Creuzot was unable to answer questions due to legal constraints.
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