A Howard County Circuit Court jury was deliberating late last night the fate of an 18-year-old Baltimore man accused of attempted murder in one of two Harper's Choice shootings in September.

After closing arguments by Assistant State's Attorney Christine B. Gage and defense attorney Richard Bernhardt, the jury retired to the deliberation room about 8: 45 p.m. to weigh the state's case against Robert Joseph Manning.

Manning testified Wednesday that another man shot John Gordon Jackson, 38, formerly of Columbia, near the Fall River Terrace apartments Sept. 21 in retaliation for a shooting that occurred about 24 hours earlier.

Jackson, on the stand, identified Manning as the one who pulled the trigger. If convicted, Manning could face life in prison.

Pub Date: 3/05/99