Yahweh acquitted in Miami of first-degree murder charge - religious sect leader Yahweh Ben Yahweh

Jet, Jan 11, 1993

After a jury deliberated for nearly 2 1/2 hours, Black religious sect leader Yahweh Ben Yahweh and three of his "disciples" were acquitted of first-degree murder.

Yahweh embraced his attorneys and smiled with relief after a Dade County Circuit Court jury in Miami rendered the verdict.

The religious leader, who is currently serving a 16-year sentence for a May conviction (Jet, June 15, 1992) on federal conspiracy charges relating to 14 other killings, was found-not guilty for the Sept. 20, 1986 stabbing death of Cecil Branch of Northwest Dade (Fla.) County.

Prosecutors alleged that Yahweh ordered his "angels of death" to carry out his order to eliminate Branch, who reportedly had a scuffle with a member of Yahweh's religious sect.

Robert Rozier, who confessed to seven killings and was the star witness for the prosecution; Leon Grant, also known as Abiri Israel; James Louis Mack, also known as Jesse, Obed Israel; Ernest Lee James, also known as Ahinadad Israel; and Yahweh were all accused of slaying Branch in his apartment.

Rozier testified that Yahweh ordered his assassins to bring back proof of the deadly deed, so they cut off his ear and gave it to the white-robed leader.

Defense attorneys painted Rozier as a "ruthless," angry deceiver who lacked credibility.

Yahweh is not yet free from prosecution. He faces a pending state trial for two additional murders of Opa-Locka, Fla., men.