Defining justice: 1 man acquitted, 2 still pending trial for charges relating to the death of Irvo Otieno

DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- 8News is looking at what's next for the cases surrounding the in-custody death of Irvo Otieno. On Thursday, a jury found former Central State Hospital employee, Wavie Jones, not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but he was just one of three people facing charges. According to online court records, two Henrico County Sheriff's deputies are still facing charges related to the death of Irvo Otieno, but — after what played out in court this past week — Wavie Jones's defense team told reporters they suspect Thursday's verdict could change things for those other two cases moving forward. Meanwhile, the fight for justice continues as it grows increasingly more polarizing. The principle of justice looks different between Otieno's loved ones' and the acquitted hospital workers' camps. "This is, as sister Caroline [Ouko] said, a great miscarriage of justice," an Otieno family friend said outside the courthouse after hearing the verdict. At that same spot outside the courthouse -- a few moments later -- Jones's attorneys also addressed the media. "The injustice is that [Jones] was charged at all," Defense Attorney Doug Ramseur said. The lawyer called former Dinwiddie Commonwealth's Attorney Ann Baskervill's decision to initially charge 10 people with second-degree murder "extreme" and "drastic." "She rushed to judgment and they were completely wrong," Ramseur said. Prosecutors dropped the charges for seven of those people and downgraded the charges to involuntary manslaughter for the remaining three. However, now that Jones has been acquitted, there are just two people left to stand trial. Prosecutors are looking at two more chances for what they've called justice for the 28-year-old. "My son was in the depths of a mental health crisis," Otieno's mother Caroline Ouko said. "The verdict here today shows us very clearly that those persons that find themselves in a crisis like my son did have no protection under the law." On the other hand, Ramseur sees two more innocent people on trial. "Everyone in that room that day in Central State Hospital was trying to help Mr. Otieno," Ramseur said. "They were there because they wanted to get him medical treatment ... not to hurt him." This past week, the Dinwiddie jury heard from witnesses including deputies who were initially also charged in Otieno's death. They spoke to the "aggressive" state Otieno was in prior to his death. One Central State worker -- whom the courtroom learned had been granted immunity to testify -- also took the stand. Multiple healthcare professionals who disagreed with a medical examiner also testified. They said they believed Otieno likely died from a sudden cardiac event rather than asphyxia after several people piled on top of him to restrain him amid a mental health crisis. Ramseur said that the jury reaching a "not-guilty" verdict in less than half an hour provides a snapshot of what to expect for the two remaining trials. "The Prosecutor chose to try our case first," Ramseur began. "She made a strategic decision with regard to the cases because they believed -- and she said in this court -- that their case against our client was the strongest … that they had the best case against our client and that's why it was maneuvered, so we would be the first to trial. And this is what happened to the strongest case they had. It should inform something. I hope it will." 8News asked Dinwiddie Commonwealth's Attorney Amanda Mann about Ramseur's suggestion that Jones's acquittal could impact the pending cases. Mann has not yet responded, but on Thursday she released a statement saying her team was disappointed with the verdict and that, because there are additional cases stemming from Otieno's death pending, it is "not appropriate" for her to comment further at this time.