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Date: 12-11-2024
Case Style:
State of Louisiana v. Dewayne Fitzgerald Poullard
Case Number: 19-K-5161
Judge: D. Jason Meche
Court: District Court, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Plaintiff's Attorney: St. Landry Parish, Louisiana District Attorney's Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description:
Opelousas, Louisiana criminal defense lawyer represented the defendant charged with murder.
On December 7, 2019, a 911 call was received reporting that a body had been found near a gully under a bridge. Law enforcement responded to the scene and recovered the body, as well as various items found near the body believed to be evidence. One of the items recovered was a tote, described as a large black plastic container with two wheels. Attached to the side of the tote was a sticker with a bar code. After visiting several stores, law enforcement learned that three such totes were purchased from a local Lowe's store in the preceding few weeks. Store surveillance revealed that two of the totes were purchased with credit cards, and the third one was purchased with cash on the day prior to the discovery of the body. Security footage showed the purchaser of that tote speaking with a store employee. The employee informed law enforcement that although he could not recall the man's name, he knew he had worked at Wendy's and O'Reilly's. The manager at Wendy's was shown a picture of the man who purchased the tote at Lowe's and identified him as Defendant.
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CRIMINAL LAW. CONFESSION ADMISSIBILITY. The case examined whether a confession given by the defendant was voluntary, given allegations of intoxication and misunderstanding of legal rights, upholding its admission based on evidence of comprehension and voluntariness.
CRIMINAL LAW. SENTENCING. The case assessed the proportionality of a thirty-five-year manslaughter sentence, affirming the sentence by finding it justified by the seriousness and circumstances of the offense.
Key Phrases Second degree murder. Responsive verdict. Excessive punishment. Miranda rights. Chemical impairment.
Outcome: The defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to thirty-seven years at hard labor.
Affirmed on appeal.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: