FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE # 079

FROM : CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
 

The Opinions handed down on the 1st day of November, 2002 , are as follows:

 

BY WEIMER, J. :

2001-KA- 1635 STATE OF LOUISIANA v. JAMES DUNN (Parish of Assumption)
(First Degree Murder; Two Counts)

For the reasons assigned, we affirm the defendant's conviction for the murders of Lisa Dupuis and Jacqueline Guillot Blanchard. We pretermit review of the penalty phase of defendant's trial and remand to the district court for a hearing in conformity with this opinion to determine whether or not defendant is mentally retarded.

CONVICTION AFFIRMED. CASE REMANDED FOR EVIDENTIARY HEARING CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION TO DETERMINE WHETHER DEFENDANT IS MENTALLY RETARDED.

VICTORY, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with reasons.

 

2001-KA- 1650 STATE OF LOUISIANA v. COREY D. WILLIAMS (Parish of Caddo)
(First Degree Murder)

Having reviewed the guilt portion of this defendant's trial and having found no reversible error, we affirm the defendant's conviction. We pretermit review of the penalty phase of defendant's trial and remand the case for a post- Atkins hearing on the sole issue of whether the defendant is mentally retarded.

CONVICTION AFFIRMED. CASE REMANDED FOR EVIDENTIARY HEARING.

VICTORY, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with reasons.