With at least 50 observers crowded into Vicksburg Municipal Court Saturday morning, the initial hearing of a man accused of fatally stabbing a Vicksburg teenager on New Year’s Eve resulted in no bond being set.

Deaunte Earl Lewis, 23, 713 Johnson St., was told by Municipal Court Judge Nancy Thomas that his case would be referred to Warren County Circuit Court for a revocation hearing with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Lewis is currently on probation with MDOC after being convicted in Warren County in 2006 for aggravated assault, said police Sgt. Sandra Williams. The revocation hearing will determine if he will return to prison on the former conviction or have bond set on the new accusation.

It was not known if Lewis had any other convictions on his record, or when the revocation hearing would be scheduled. He requested a court-appointed defense attorney.

Lewis is accused of killing Terry Tamal Robinson, 16, who lived at 240 Tully Road in the Waltersville Estates community off of North Washington Street. Terry died just before midnight Thursday outside a home at 180 Walters St., just around the corner from his home.

Williams said Lewis, who also was at the Walters Street residence, and Terry became involved in a physical fight which escalated, with Lewis eventually stabbing the teen.

Lewis was arrested about 15 minutes later.

An autopsy Friday confirmed the cause of death was one stab wound to the abdomen, Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey said.

Saturday afternoon, investigators were at the scene for follow-up duties. The murder weapon had not been recovered, said Williams.

Security was tight for Saturday’s hearing, which was held at the city courtroom inside the police station. Several police officers searched bags and manned the metal detector just inside the front door of the station. Observers entering the courtroom were then scanned again with a hand-held metal detector wand and their bags searched by hand.

Watch commander Lt. Davey Barnette said no problems were reported.

Terry’s death was the city’s third homicide of 2009. Antonio Turner, who was 25, was shot March 15 in his car on Alcorn Drive. Danny Miller, also 25, was killed April 12 on Baldwin Ferry Road.

Arrests and grand jury indictments have been made in the two previous cases. Lewis’ case will be presented to a grand jury for indictment at a later date.

*

Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com