Courtroom locked down during murder trial of Devail

Tyrone N. Butts

APE Reporter
21

Murder trial mayhem ends with life sentence

Emotions boiled over during the sentencing of convicted murderer Devail Hudson on Saturday when Hudson's sister allegedly assaulted the sheriff and the police chief threatened to arrest Hudson's mother for disrupting the court.

Hudson was sentenced to life without parole during the hearing at the Oktibbeha County Courthouse. His sentence capped a wild day in which the courthouse was locked down by local law enforcement.

It took eight officers to wrestle Hudson to the floor of the courtho
se earlier in the day when he tried to leave after being convicted of capital murder in the August 2001 death of 77-year-old Juanita Miller.


Miller was beaten, robbed and left for dead at her
house, which was set on fire in six different parts. Mille
r's husband testified that $400 to $600 was missing from their house.


But it was during the sentencing phase that the situation became volatile.

When Hudson's niece, Nikki Hudson, sat in the witness box and said how much she loved her uncle, Hudson stood and headed for the door.

About the same time, his sister, Corlissa Hudson, walked into the courtroom from a front entrance and began screaming.

She allegedly assaulted Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan before four officers took her to the Oktibbeha County Jail, where she was arrested on charges of assaulting an officer and public disturbance.

"She hit me in the face," Bryan said during a court recess. Bryan did
n't seek medical attention.

When the guilty verdict was announced, Hudson's mother paced in front of the courthouse, insisting the wrong person had been convicted of Miller's murde
r. When Nikki Hudson and Corlissa Hudson started their commotion during the sentencing phase, Hudson's m
other stormed into the back of the courtroom, yelling that her son was innocent.


"One more outburst and we're going to arrest you," Starkville Police Chief David Lindley yelled into the courtroom minutes later after about half the audience in the courtroom cleared out. "Were not going to have a riot during a murder trial."

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What's that smell?


T.N.B.
 
21

Hi Tyrone,

This sure smell like negritude to me!! Imagine the poor people who work in criminal courts that have to put up with negritude like this on a daily basis. I wonder if they celebrate diversity??

Gman
 
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