NEW HAVEN — A 21-year-old man was arraigned Wednesday for a fourth homicide, the latest charge stemming from a 2007 killing he allegedly committed when he was 17.

Zackery Cody Franklin, shown in the photo in court, who is jailed on three other murder charges, said nothing in court when he was arraigned for the December 2007 slaying of Jeremiah Johnson, 32, whose body was found near the entrance of East Rock Park at the Hamden town line.

His alleged accomplice, John Torry Denby, 27, also is in jail in lieu of nearly $400,000 bail stemming from drug sale arrests.

Their public defender and court bond commissioner acknowledged that bond for both was “academic” given the fact that they have been unable to post the existing bonds.The bail commissioner noted that Franklin already was jailed in lieu of more than $5 million bail in the other cases.

Regardless of any new bond on top of that, it seemed impossible he would be able to post it. Franklin, of West Haven, has been charged with killing three people in two cities. Johnson was the fourth. He is accused of killing Ryan Barnaby in 2011 when the victim allegedly showed up to sell him a gun in Edgewood Park. Last July, he allegedly killed a man in Waterbury when, while celebrating his 21st birthday, he tried to rob him of his three-wheeled motorcycle.

That same month in New Haven, he allegedly killed John-Claude James in the Hill during a robbery involving a gold chain.

Franklin fled the state and was arrested in November in Virginia.

In court Wednesday, he stuck out his tongue to someone in the gallery and smiled.

Marquell Banks

The prosecutor in the criminal case for Science Burrus Friday dropped the murder charge, conceding there is no evidence he intentionally shot his friend, Marquell Banks.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Pepper substituted new charges of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

Pepper and New Haven Chief Public Defender Thomas Ullmann had been embroiled in a probable cause hearing concerning the murder charge for the past month. In such hearings a judge ultimately decides whether the state has sufficient evidence to lodge the charge.

The two attorneys had been scheduled to present their closing arguments in the case Friday afternoon. But Friday morning Pepper announced his decision, relieving Fasano of the need to rule.

Read New Haven Register's full story on the charges against Burrus.

Mothers wept on both sides of the courtroom Friday as Darius Jackson, 20, was sentenced to serve 38 years in prison for the shooting death of Michael Holland, who was just 19.

Jackson pleaded guilty two months ago to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm rather than risk going to trial on a murder charge and receiving an even longer term. He apologized to Holland’s family and to his family Friday before the sentence was imposed.

Read the New Haven Register's full report on Jackson's sentencing.

Josiah Alexander

NEW HAVEN -- Daniel Petrillo Thursday pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for a deal that will keep him in prison for 10 years in the stabbing death of Josiah Alexander during a fight at a party in Westville two years ago.

Petrillo, who is now 23, had been charged with murder in the crime, which occurred Nov. 21, 2010 at 15 Westerleigh Road.

Alexander, of 287 Ashmun St., was 23 at the time of his death.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Sibley Sr. told Superior Court Judge Roland Fasano that Alexander’s family had had “a change of heart” and were “being compassionate” in their input about the sentence.

“They decided they would leave it up to the court, as long as he pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for Mr. Alexander’s death,” Sibley said. “Since they can’t bring him back, they want to get on with their lives.”

Under the agreement, Petrillo June 1 will receive a 20-year sentence, to be suspended after he serves 10 years. He will then face five years of probation.

Alexander’s friends told police Petrillo became enraged when Alexander took a sip from Petrillo’s bottle of liquor.

Marquell Banks

Attorneys for a man accused of firing a shotgun blast into the head of a 13-year-old boy began their attempt Tuesday to convince a judge that it wasn’t murder.

Science Burrus, 18, is jailed in lieu of $2 million bail in the October 2011 killing of Marquell Banks inside a Porter Street home.

Full story by New Haven Register: Science Burres' Lawyers Dispute Murder Charge In Marquell Banks Homicide Case.

Science Buruss