Henry Anderson – black, age 37
Sentenced to death in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
By: A jury
Date of crime: September 2000
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Anderson was convicted of stabbing to death Nita Brinson, 85. Brinson had hired Anderson to do some yard work. It was Anderson’s fifth felony conviction. The defense claimed that Anderson was mentally retarded, thus could not be legally sentenced to death.
Prosecutor(s): Mike Ruddick Defense lawyer(s): Louis Scott, George Britton
Sources: Associated Press 4/29/05, 6/16/05, 6/17/05; Baton Rouge Advocate 6/18/05
Gerald Bordelon – white, age 40
Sentenced to death in Livingston Parish, Louisiana
By: A judge, after a unanimous recommendation of death by a jury
Date of crime: November 2002
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Bordelon was convicted of killing his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Courtney LeBlanc. Bordelon had kidnapped her from her home, and sexually abused her before strangling her to death. LeBlanc had accused her stepfather of molestation in 2001, but this case did not make it past the grand jury. Bordelon admitted to killing LeBlanc and led authorities to her body. During trial, defense argued that LeBlanc’s mother was responsible for the killing, saying she was aware of the molestation, but did not want her husband to go back to jail. Bordelon escaped from prison in 2003 while awaiting trial. During the penalty phase, prior victims of Bordelon testified to the brutal sex crimes he was previously convicted of. Bordelon instructed his attorneys to not offer any defense or cross-examine witnesses during the penalty phase.
Prosecutor(s): Charlotte Herbert Defense lawyer(s): Al Benzabat, Reggie McIntyre, Wayne Stewart
Sources: Baton Rouge Advocate 7/1/06; Associated Press 8/18/06
Brandy Holmes – white, age 23
Sentenced to death in Caddo Parish, Louisiana
By: A jury
Date of crime: January 2003
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Holmes and boyfriend Robert Coleman shot and stabbed retired minister Julian Brandon after he answered a knock on his front door. His wife Alice Brandon survived a gunshot wound. Defense provided testimony that Brandy suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome and an antisocial disorder. Her own mother testified at the sentencing that she drank the entire time she was pregnant and Brandy suffered from mental disorders as a result. Coleman was convicted of the murder and also sentenced to death. The gun used in this slaying was also used to kill Terrance Blaze. Holmes has been indicted for his murder.
Prosecutor(s): Lea Hall Defense lawyer(s): David McClatchey
Sources: Associated Press 2/15/06, 2/17/06; The Shreveport Times 2/17/06
Shedran Williams – black, age 33
Sentenced to death in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
By: A jury
Date of crime: May 2004
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Williams was trying to rob a store of less than $20 when two security guards and a customer tried to stop him. Williams gained control of a gun from a guard and made his way to the exit. Instead of leaving, he shot Garrett Douget and Stanford Wilson, who survived, but fatally wounded Vickie Wax, a police lieutenant who was working security detail. Williams testified that he did get in a fight when he was leaving the store, but denied the shootings. At sentencing, defense provided testimony that Williams was mentally retarded. Williams had just been released from a 5 year sentence just 28 days before the murder.
Prosecutor(s): Brent Stockstill Defense lawyer(s): Billy Hecker, Author Joiner
Sources: Baton Rouge Advocate 3/24/06, 5/26/06; Associated Press 5/26/06