Mistrial declared in Portsmouth double murder trial
Mar 25, 2025
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — It’s been more than two years since twin brothers Alvin and Calvin Joyner, 51, were shot and killed on the 1800 block of Nashville Ave. in Portsmouth. Now their family will have to keep waiting for a shot at justice.
The trial of Joseph Cross, one of the two susp
ects in the case, was supposed to begin Tuesday. Instead, it ended in a mistrial shortly after a jury was selected.
"The court found there was a conflict with one of the defendant's attorneys and subsequently removed the attorney from the case," said Antoinette Ramseur, public information officer for the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, in an email to 10 On Your Side. "As a result, the court declared a mistrial."
A new trial date will be set.
The shooting happened on Feb. 5, 2023. A third victim, a woman, also faced life-threatening injuries from the incident.
Shamoine Briggs, 31, was also initially charged in the homicide. Her murder charges have since been dismissed. ...read more read less