Convictions overturned for 4 men accused of killing Chris Paul’s grandfather in 2002, attorney says

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — Four men convicted in the killing of NBA star Chris Paul’s grandfather when they were teens over 20 years ago had their convictions overturned on Friday, according to an attorney.

The group became known as the Winston-Salem Five after 61-year-old Nathaniel Jones was killed on Nov. 15, 2002, the day after Paul committed to play basketball for Wake Forest University. 

Nathaniel Cauthen was 15 when he was charged along with his brother and three other teenagers.

Four of the five men tried to prove they were innocent a few years ago, and a panel of judges dismissed the claim.

Dorrell Brayboy was stabbed and killed in 2019 after being released from prison.

Cauthen was convicted of first-degree murder in 2004 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A Forsyth Superior Court resentenced Cauthen to life with the possibility of parole in 2016.

Cauthen and his brother, Rayshawn Denard Banner, who was a juvenile at the time of Jones’ killing, were the only two sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Jermel Tolliver and Christopher Bryant were in prison for 12 years. They were found guilty of second-degree murder and common law robbery.

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that judges cannot give mandatory life sentences to juveniles.

In 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the previous ruling would be applied retroactively.