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Thread: Lameco Dechawn Turner - Alabama

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    Lameco Dechawn Turner - Alabama





    Facts of the Crime:

    Lameco Turner was sentenced to death on February 23, 2010 in the 2004 shooting death of Prakash Shah, 54, during a robbery.

  2. #2
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
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    EJI Wins New Trial for Alabama Death Row Prisoner Lameco Turner

    The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on December 14 unanimously reversed Lameco Turner's capital murder conviction and death sentence because the Houston County District Attorney used illegal hearsay evidence to convict him.

    Lameco Turner was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2004 shooting of a clerk at a Dothan convenience store during a robbery. Mr. Turner told police that he went to the convenience store with two other men to rob it and while he was holding a pistol, he accidentally fired it, hitting the clerk in the lower abdomen, and then ran out of the store. The defense argued at trial that Mr. Turner was not guilty of capital murder because he did not intend to shoot and kill the clerk.

    The State admitted into evidence a recording of Mr. Turner's police interrogation, during which police officers stated that Mr. Turner's two accomplices told the police that Mr. Turner intended to shoot the clerk. One of the interrogating officers also testified that the police "knew [that the shooting] wasn't an accident from [the accomplices'] statement[s]." In closing argument to the jury, the prosecutor used the accomplices' statements to show that Mr. Turner intended to shoot the clerk.

    On appeal, EJI argued that the State's use of the accomplices's out-of-court statements to law enforcement was inadmissible hearsay evidence that violated Mr. Turner's constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him.

    The Court of Criminal Appeals agreed, finding that the State's use of the accomplices' statements during closing argument was illegal hearsay and was plain error because the illegal evidence had "an unfair prejudicial impact on the jury's deliberations." Because it was "the most damning evidence the State presented to show that Turner intended to kill," "struck at the heart of Turner's only defense and undoubtedly impacted the jury's deliberations," the court reversed Mr. Turner's conviction and death sentence.

    http://eji.org/node/727

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    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Dothan man previously given a death sentence has a new trial scheduled to begin this week

    By Michele W. Forehand
    Dothan Eagle

    A Dothan man on Death Row will have a new trial in the Houston County court system.

    Lameca Dechawn Turner was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death in Jan. 19, 2010. However, the case came back on appeal and a new trial will begin this week in Judge Michael Conaway’s courtroom.

    According to State’s Attorney Russ Goodman, the jury selection should be completed by Monday and Goodman hopes opening arguments will begin Tuesday, Aug. 28.

    “If Turner is found guilty of capital murder, the death sentence is no longer on table, by request of the victim’s family,” Goodman said.

    Dothan police investigators charged Turner with capital murder in the death of Prakash Shah on April 20, 2004. Shah died after being shot during a robbery of the Southeast Mini Mart, located at Cottonwood Road and Third Avenue.

    During Turner’s previous trial, former Dothan Police Officer Frank Meredith stated Turner admitted he pulled the trigger in the fatal shooting, and that there was no evidence to show it was an accident.

    On appeal, however, Turner argued that his case suffered irreparable damage when confessions of his nontestifying accomplices' were admitted into evidence through the testimony of the lead investigator. Turner argued he shot Shah by accident. The lead investigator testified that witness accounts indicated that Turner shot Shah after Shah grabbed a nearby phone to call police. Turner argued on appeal that introduction of the confessions violated Turner's Constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him.

    The conviction was reversed and remanded back to court for a new trial.

    Turner was one of the three people charged with murder in the shooting. If convicted Turner faces the possibility of life in prison without parole.

    Turner’s brother, Cordell Turner, pleaded guilty to his involvement in the murder and received a 99-year prison sentence. Turner’s cousin, Ray Grace, was also convicted and was sentenced to life in prison.

    The family of Prakash Shah is opposed to the death penalty on religious grounds.

    https://www.dothaneagle.com/news/cri...f77a0568c.html
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    Senior Member CnCP Legend CharlesMartel's Avatar
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    Lameco Turner could be paroled soon after jury finds him guilty of lesser charge

    By Ken Curtis
    WTVY

    Dothan -- Lameco Turner cried as deputies led him from a Houston County courtroom today, moments after a jury found him guilty of felony murder.

    For a man once on death row, the verdict is good news the man convicted of killing Prakash Shah in Dothan 14 years ago.

    “I believe the jury realized he didn’t intend to kill anyone. He was young and panicked,” defense attorney Clay Wadsworth said after hearing the verdict. He credits co-counsel Amy Smith for her work on the case.

    The shooting occurred as Turner and two others robbed a convenience store in 2004. Shah had gone to the store to deliver food to a relative who worked there.

    Another jury, in 2009, convicted Turner of capital murder and a judge sentenced him to death. An appeals court later overturned the conviction and a retrial was ordered.

    This time, prosecutors did not seek the death penalty at the request of Shah’s family who oppose capital punishment on religious grounds. Turner would have received a life sentence with no possibility of parole had he been convicted of the capital charge.

    “We’re disappointed but we’ll ask Judge (Michael) Conaway to sentence Turner to life in prison,” Houston County Assistant District Attorney Russ Goodman told WTVY.

    Even if Conway gives Turner the maximum, he would be eligible for parole almost immediately because of credit he will receive for the 14 years he’s been behind bars.

    http://www.wtvy.com/content/news/Lam...492006131.html
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    Senior Member CnCP Legend Mike's Avatar
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    Following Lameco Turner retrial, codefendant seeks new trial

    By Lance Griffen
    The Dothan Eagle

    A man convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole is seeking a new trial on the heels of his codefendant being found guilty of a lesser offense on retrial.

    Ray Grace was one of three men who entered the Southeast Mini Mart on Cottonwood Highway for the purpose of robbing it in 2004. The robbery resulted in the shooting death of Prakash Shah. The person who shot and killed Shah, Lameco Dechawn Turner, was initially convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in 2010. His conviction was overturned on appeal and Turner was recently found guilty of felony murder in the retrial. He will be sentenced at a later date.

    Grace, Turner’s cousin, has been seeking a new trial since January. He filed a motion with the court claiming he deserved a new trial for two reasons. A judge granted a partial reduction in Grace’s required filing fee and indicated the case could be docketed for a fee of $50. The fee was never paid and now Grace is claiming a complete inability to pay.

    Grace recently filed a letter with the court to check on the status of his request. He is currently serving his sentence at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer.

    In his petition, Grace claims he did not receive a fair trial because a juror made a derogatory comment about the lengthy testimony of a defense expert witness during trial. He also claims he did not receive a fair trial because a black prospective juror was struck by the prosecution because he knew two of the potential witnesses in the case and a white prospective juror was not struck when providing a similar answer.

    A third codefendant, Tarris Cordell Turner, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison for the murder and 20 years for first-degree robbery. He is serving his sentence at Bullock Correctional Facility His next parole consideration date is April 1, 2019.

    https://www.dothaneagle.com/news/cri...542fae962.html

  6. #6
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Man once on death row will now serve 99 year sentence

    A former death row inmate twice convicted of murder will serve a 99-year sentence.

    In August, a Houston County jury found Lameco Turner guilty of felony murder in the 2007 shooting of Prakash Shah who had gone to a convenience store to take dinner to a relative who worked there.

    Turner had previously been found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death. However, an appeals court overturned his conviction because the confessions of two co-defendants were admitted into evidence even though they didn't testify.

    Turner's attorney said his client only meant to rob the store and didn't intend to kill Shah.

    https://www.wtvy.com/content/news/Ma...500441101.html
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    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Early release denied for Dothan man charged with capital murder

    A Dothan man sentenced to 99 years in prison last November was denied parole Wednesday.

    Lameco Dechawn Turner was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death in January 2010. However, the case came back on appeal and a new trial was held in August 2018. Turner was then sentenced to 99 years in prison.

    According to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, Turner has served 15 years, 8 months of his sentence.

    “Mr. Turner was denied today,” said Houston County/ Henry County District Attorney Pat Jones. “I believe he is up for review in five years for consideration for early parole. I attended Mr. Turner’s parole hearing to voice the state’s concerns. I also spoke with the family members of the victim and we pleased the parole board listed and denied early release for Mr. Turner.

    Dothan police investigators charged Turner with capital murder in the April 20, 2004, death of Prakash Shah, who died after being shot during a robbery at the Southeast Mini Mart at Cottonwood Road and Third Avenue.

    During Turner’s previous trial, former Dothan Police Officer Frank Meredith said Turner admitted he pulled the trigger in the fatal shooting, and that there was no evidence to show it was an accident.

    On appeal, however, Turner argued that his case suffered irreparable damage when confessions by his accomplices, who did not testify, were admitted into evidence through the testimony of the lead investigator. Turner argued he shot Shah by accident.

    The lead investigator testified that witness accounts indicated that Turner shot Shah after Shah grabbed a nearby phone to call police.

    Turner argued on appeal that introduction of the confessions violated Turner’s constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him.

    The conviction was reversed and remanded to court for a new trial.

    According to lead counsel Aimee Smith, during Turner’s new trial, Judge Michael Conaway imposed a 110-year prison sentence, which she said was out of the jurisdiction of the courts.

    Turner was 1 of the 3 people charged with murder in the shooting.

    Turner’s brother, Cordell Turner, pleaded guilty to his involvement in the murder and received a 99-year sentence. Turner’s cousin Ray Grace also was convicted and was sentenced to life in prison.

    The family of Prakash Shah opposed the death penalty on religious grounds.

    (source: Dothan Eagle)
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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