HERNANDO, MS (abc24.com) - A Mississippi man charged with murdering his girlfriend is headed to a state mental institution.
Jelani Greene appeared in court Tuesday morning in Desoto County. He has spent a little more than a year behind bars for the death of China Jones.
A judge decided Greene was not guilty by reason of insanity for strangling Jones to death in her Olive Branch home in January 2011. The ruling was
based on the McNaughton Rule, which basically states Greene was not aware of the difference between right and wrong at the time of the murder.
Two psychiatrists diagnosed Greene with paranoid schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder, conditions he had never shown any signs of until several days before he killed Jones. Greene, who admits to the murder, stated God told him to "quiet the demon" as he and Jones were praying together, and he was "fighting the devil" when he strangled her. Olive Branch police
found Greene walking naked in the street before they discovered Jones' body.
Greene will remain in the custody of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office until he is transported to a state mental facility for further examination. If Greene is determined to be sane, a hearing will be held on whether he poses a danger to society.
Friends and family of China Jones held a vigil in her memory at Tom Lee Park Monday evening. China's sister, Crystal Jones, told ABC 24 News that their family plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Jelani Greene.
