A father said Tuesday that five men accused of an attack on his late son should have gone to trial.
Instead, prosecutors dismissed aggravated assault charges against Montrell Mitchell, William Blake Mitchell, Antonio Robinson, Dimitris Robinson and Kendall Robinson.
They appeared in the courtroom of Judge Tom Greenholtz, who allowed Sherman Byrd, father of victim Jamaal Byrd, to make a statement.
Jamaal Byrd died some time later after the attack, but prosecutors said there was no medical connection between the incident and his death in November 2016.
The father said his son testified at a preliminary hearing and identified the defendants as his attackers.
He said his son "was left for dead" and had a broken jaw, the loss of nine teeth and a damaged kidney.
Sherman Byrd said the incident was retaliation for an incident in which he was robbed and two persons related to the defendants in the assault had to serve time.
Prosecutors said a meeting will be arranged between Sherman Byrd and District Attorney Neal Pinkston to discuss the dismissal.