Earlier this month two Baton Rouge men were arrested after being accused of the murder of a man in Sorrento on January 12th. Gerald Wilkins was reportedly found shot to death on the side of a road in what authorities are calling an execution style slaying. Both the victim and the suspects are from Baton Rouge.
Authorities say that the suspects were associates of the victim and that all three of them had been together in Baton Rouge immediately prior to the homicide. The suspects are accused of committing the murder after driving into Ascension Parish and filling up at a local gas station.
Authorities say that the suspects made several unanswered calls to a local resident, whose residence was later searched, with drugs and guns showing up. He was later charged with possession of marijuana, possession of CDS and illegal carrying of a weapon.
Motive for the murder is believed to involvement in illegal drug trade. Both suspects have extensive criminal records.
The goal of criminal defense is always to offer the defendant the protection due to them according to their legal rights. Sometimes defendants have a lot going against them in a criminal case, but the focus for a defense attorney is always to achieve the best possible outcome in the case.
There are a variety of strategies that work toward this end. In cases where there is significant evidence working against the defendant, defense often focuses on ensuring that police investigation followed the proper procedures, that the trial is as fair as possible, and that the prosecutors’ charges are adequately supported by the evidence.
Source: Baton Rouge Today, “Baton Rouge Men Arrested for Sorrento Homicide,” January 19, 2013