Judge Tosses Convictions in 2002 Killing of NBA Star Chris Paul's Grandfather

A North Carolina judge has vacated the convictions tied to the 2002 death of Chris Paul’s grandfather, Nathaniel Jones, in a case long known locally as the “Winston-Salem Five.”

According to People, Superior Court Judge Robert Broadie overturned the cases of the men, who were convicted as teenagers, citing new evidence and issues with the testimony.

Two of the men—Nathaniel Cauthen and Rayshawn Banner—had been serving life sentences; three others, Christopher Bryant, Jermal Tolliver, and Dorrell Brayboy, were convicted of second-degree murder years ago, with Brayboy later dying in 2019.

Jones, 61, died of a heart attack after he was tied up and beaten during a home robbery in Winston-Salem in November 2002. The attack occurred the day after Paul, then a standout at West Forsyth High, committed to Wake Forest University. The defendants were 14 or 15 at the time of the crime and were prosecuted between 2004 and 2005.

Judge Broadie’s ruling followed a fresh review that found a key witness had lied under oath after feeling pressured by police, and that DNA evidence pointed away from the defendants being at the scene. The court also flagged concerns about police conduct and the adequacy of the original legal defense.

Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill has moved to challenge the decision, and state officials secured a temporary hold while an appeal is considered—leaving Cauthen and Banner’s immediate release unresolved. Defense attorney Christine (Chris) Mumma criticized the pushback, saying the order “is very thorough and very clear and lays out the claims very well with supporting evidence.”

Paul has not publicly commented on the latest developments. The Winston-Salem native played three seasons at Wake Forest before being selected No. 4 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. He is a 12-time NBA All-Star and is preparing for his 21st NBA season.