Grand jury convenes, to study 5 killings
Published 11:44 am Monday, October 31, 2011
Five homicide cases, including two potential capital cases and another in which three teens are accused of murder, are expected to be reviewed by the grand jury this week in Warren County Circuit Court.
The panel of 18 jurors was selected from a pool of about 200 residents summoned from voter rolls and sworn in earlier today by presiding Judge M. James Chaney.
“We anticipate presenting 100-plus cases to the grand jury,” said District Attorney Ricky Smith.
The list of cases was still being developed Friday, he said. Some investigations were awaiting the receipt of lab results and other evidence, but cases he anticipated presenting include:
• Corey Thompson, 25, 4880 U.S. 80 — charged with armed robbery and capital murder in the May 1 death of Maurice Morris, 19, 2228 Grove St. Morris and Thompson are believed to have attempted to rob a Vicksburg man outside the Confederate Ridge Apartments at 780 U.S. 61 North. Instead, Morris was shot and killed by the victim. His body was discovered the following day. Mississippi statute allows a capital murder charge if a death occurs in the commission of another felony.
• Rondell Galvin, 20, 209 Overlook Drive — accused of capital murder and robbery in the July 15 death of William Jones, 20, 280 Curry St. Jones was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash and shot around 2:15 a.m. outside the home where he lived with his parents. Galvin’s co-defendant, James Walker, 37, 33 Johnson St., was charged with being an accessory after the fact.
• James Ransom, 19, and Michael Jackson, 19, both of 1717 Martha St., and Kendall Oliver, 14, 2200 Marshal St. — accused of murder in the May 31 shooting of Robert Banks, 20, 226 High Hill Drive, following a dice game. At the time of their arrest, police said Ransom was believed to have fired the shot that killed Banks, and Smith said the grand jury could indict Oliver and Jackson for murder or as accessories to the crime.
• Daniel O’Neil Dodd — charged with culpable negligence manslaughter in the May 23 shooting death of Michael Justin Tornero, 26, of Houston, Texas. Dodd and Tornero were co-workers hired by Entergy Mississippi to provide security in certain areas affected by the 2011 Mississippi River Flood. Tornero died in a hotel room from a gunshot wound police said resulted from gunplay.
• Annette Scott, 44, 2910 Arcadia Place — accused of the June 13 stabbing death of her live-in boyfriend, Michael Terrence Smith, 45. Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey said Smith died around 11:15 p.m. from multiple stab wounds, and Scott was arrested at the scene.
In addition to the homicides, the grand jury is expected to review cases including two Jackson teens accused of armed carjacking; a reportedly homeless woman charged with false pretense after scamming at least eight local residents of thousands of dollars; and other defendants accused of illegal possession of drugs and various property crimes, such as burglary and grand larceny.
The grand jury meets with Smith and local law enforcement, reviewing evidence and issuing indictments where there is enough evidence to go to trial. If the evidence is insufficient, the grand jury “no bills” the case. Jurors can also reduce the charge to a misdemeanor.
Those indicted will be arraigned — formally advised of the charges against them — and given a trial date Friday.
In addition, jurors tour the Warren County Jail, the Youth Court and the Children’s Shelter; meet with judges and other county officials; and issue a report of recommendations to the Board of Supervisors based on their findings.
The Warren County grand jury meets four times a year — in January, May, July and October.