SUCCESS
Despite Identification by eyewitness, alleged Mardi Gras day shooter is acquitted at trial
- After a three day trial in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, attorney Robert Hjortsberg successfully argued that his client Gerard Gray was not responsible for the shooting on St. Charles Ave. during Mardi Gras of 2009. When cross examining their lead witness, Mr. Hjortsberg was able to pick apart the states case, which ultimately led to the defendants acquittal. “This is a case involving mistaken identity” Hjortsberg said in his closing argument. “You don’t put a young man in a cage unless you are certain he did it and there is no way you could be close to certain in light of the evidence presented.”
FAMED RAPPER LIL BOOSIE FOUND NOT GUILTY
- Despite a gunman’s taped confession that famed musical artist Torence “Li’l Boosie” Hatch paid him to murder a man named Terry Boyd, Boosie was unanimously acquitted of First Degree Murder charges. They jury took less than an hour to deliberate and deliver the verdict. After detectives called the taped confession an “ace in the hole,” Mr. Williams pointed out that it was a poker saying, a game of deceit. After the trial, he stood by his client and stated “This man has been innocent. I thank God that the truth came out.
AFTER THE STATE IS BEATEN AT TRIAL, FEDERAL PROSECUTORS RETREAT
- Tragically, both State and Federal prosecutors pursued charges against a mother after her son was convicted of murder, attempting to incarcerate her alongside him. Mr. Williams successfully defended Ms. Vanessa Johnson against the State at trial and was able to communicate her innocence to an Orleans Parish jury. Shortly thereafter, the Federal Government voluntarily dismissed all charges against Ms. Johnson as well. Read more about it here.
EBR JURY AWARDS VICTIM’S DAUGHTER IN FATAL ACCIDENT
- In 2003, Melissa Benton was driving Jimmy Thomas to work. As she attempted to cross Scenic Highway, a sign obstructed her view of oncoming traffic. When she began crossing the highway, a Baton Rouge Police cruiser violently broadsided Ms. Benton’s vehicle. Ms. Benton died at the scene. Mr. Thomas and Ms. Benton’s seven year old daughter, Jonqualya, also sustained injuries in the crash. The jury awarded Jonqualya Benton $2 million dollars, which the Court reduced to $1.6 million. The jury also awarded Jimmy Thomas and his son $800,000.