State of Louisiana v. Joseph McKinley Guillory AKA Joseph Guillory

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

17-403

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

JOSEPH MCKINLEY GUILLORY
AKA JOSEPH GUILLORY

**********

APPEAL FROM THE
TWENTY-SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF ST. LANDRY, NO. 15-K-2178-C
HONORABLE ALONZO HARRIS, DISTRICT JUDGE

**********

JOHN E. CONERY
JUDGE

**********

Court composed of John D. Saunders, John E. Conery, and D. Kent Savoie, Judges.

AFFIRMED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

Earl B. Taylor
District Attorney – 27th Judicial District Court
Jennifer M. Ardoin
Assistant District Attorney
Post Office Drawer 1968
Opelousas, Louisiana 70571
(337) 948-0551
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

Douglas Lee Harville
Louisiana Appellate Project
Post Office Box 52988
Shreveport, Louisiana 71135
(318) 222-1700
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT:
Joseph McKinley Guillory
AKA Joseph Guillory

CONERY, Judge.

Defendant, Joseph McKinley Guillory, was charged by indictment filed on

August 27, 2015, with the second degree murder of Haaymen Douresseau, Jr., a

violation of La.R.S. 14:30.1. On November 29, 2016, a jury found Defendant

guilty as charged.

A motion for new trial was filed on December 15, 2016. A hearing on the

motion was held on March 16, 2017, and the trial court denied the motion.

Defendant was then sentenced to life imprisonment, without the benefit of

probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The sentence is to run concurrently

with any sentence Defendant is presently serving.

Defendant appealed and is now before this court asserting two assignments

of error: 1) there was insufficient evidence to prove he was guilty beyond a

reasonable doubt of second degree murder, and 2) the loss of exculpatory evidence

denied his constitutional rights of confrontation and due process. For the following

reasons, we affirm with instructions.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On May 15, 2015, Defendant stabbed Haaymen Douresseau, Jr. on or near

the sidewalk in front of Defendant’s residence at Acadian Village Apartments. Mr.

Douresseau died as a result of injuries from the stabbing. At trial, Defendant

claimed that Mr. Douresseau was the aggressor and that the stabbing was justified

because it was done in self-defense.

ERRORS PATENT

In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for

errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find that

there are no errors patent; however, the court minutes of sentencing require

correction. The sentencing transcript indicates that Defendant’s life sentence was

imposed at hard labor, but this is not reflected in the court minutes of sentencing.

“[W]hen the minutes and the transcript conflict, the transcript prevails.” State v.

Wommack, 00-137, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/7/00), 770 So.2d 365, 369, writ denied,

00-2051 (La. 9/21/01), 797 So.2d 62. Accordingly, we order the trial court to

correct the sentencing minutes to accurately reflect that Defendant’s sentence is to

be served at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of

sentence.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE

In his first assignment of error, Defendant contends there was insufficient

evidence to prove that he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of second degree

murder. We will first discuss the standard of review.

The standard of review in a sufficiency of the evidence claim is
“whether, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found proof beyond a
reasonable doubt of each of the essential elements of the crime
charged.” State v. Leger, 05-11, p. 91 (La. 7/10/06), 936 So.2d 108,
170, cert. denied, 549 U.S. 1221, 127 S.Ct. 1279, 167 L.Ed.2d 100
(2007) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61
L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), and State v. Captville, 448 So.2d 676 (La.1984)).
The Jackson standard of review is now legislatively embodied in
La.Code Crim.P. art. 821. It does not allow the appellate court “to
substitute its own appreciation of the evidence for that of the fact-
finder.” State v. Pigford, 05-477, p. 6 (La. 2/22/06), 922 So.2d 517,
521 (citing State v. Robertson, 96-1048 (La. 10/4/96), 680 So.2d
1165, and State v. Lubrano, 563 So.2d 847 (La.1990)). The appellate
court’s function is not to assess the credibility of witnesses or to
reweigh the evidence. State v. Smith, 94-3116 (La. 10/16/95), 661
So.2d 442.

The factfinder’s role is to weigh the credibility of witnesses.
State v. Ryan, 07-504 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/7/07), 969 So.2d 1268. Thus,
other than insuring the sufficiency evaluation standard of Jackson,
“the appellate court should not second-guess the credibility
determination of the trier of fact,” but rather, it should defer to the
rational credibility and evidentiary determinations of the jury. Id. at

2

1270 (quoting State v. Lambert, 97-64, pp. 4-5 (La.App. 3 Cir.
9/30/98), 720 So.2d 724, 726–27). Our supreme court has stated:

However, an appellate court may impinge on the
fact finder’s discretion and its role in determining the
credibility of witnesses “only to the extent necessary to
guarantee the fundamental due process of law.” State v.
Mussall, 523 So.2d 1305, 1310 (La.1988). In determining
the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a conviction,
an appellate court must preserve “ ‘the factfinder’s role
as weigher of the evidence’ by reviewing ‘all of the
evidence . . . in the light most favorable to the
prosecution.’ ” McDaniel v. Brown, 558 U.S. 120, 134,
130 S.Ct. 665, 674, 175 L.Ed.2d 582 (quoting Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61
L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)). When so viewed by an appellate
court, the relevant question is whether, on the evidence
presented at trial, “any rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. at
2789.

State v. Cofer, 16-871 pp.3-4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/5/17), 216 So.3d 313, 316-

17.

We will now review the law as it pertains to the crime charged, Defendant’s

claim of self-defense and his alternative claim that the responsive verdict of

manslaughter is applicable.

“Second degree murder is the killing of a human being” with
the “specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm[.]” La.R.S.
14:30.1(A)(1). “Specific criminal intent is that state of mind which
exists when the circumstances indicate that the offender actively
desired the prescribed criminal consequences to follow his act or
failure to act.” La.R.S. 14:10(1). . . .

[I]n a case in which defendant asserts that he acted
in self-defense, the state has the burden of establishing
beyond a reasonable doubt that he did not act in self-
defense. State v. Brown, 414 So.2d 726, 728 (La.1982).
When defendant challenges the sufficiency of the
evidence in such a case, the question becomes whether,
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found
beyond a reasonable doubt that the homicide was not
committed in self-defense.

3

State ex rel. D.P.B., 02-1742, p. 5 (La. 5/20/03), 846 So.2d 753, 756–
57 (footnote omitted).

Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:20(A) states, in pertinent part:

A homicide is justifiable:
(1) When committed in self-defense by one who
reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of
losing his life or receiving great bodily harm and that the
killing is necessary to save himself from that danger.

....

In State v. Fox, 15-692, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/3/16), 184 So.3d 886,
890, writ denied, 16–404 (La.3/13/17), [216] So.3d [800], this court
stated:

“In examining a self-defense claim, it is necessary to
consider: (1) whether the defendant reasonably believed
that he was in imminent danger of death or great bodily
harm; (2) whether the killing was necessary to prevent
that death or great bodily harm; and (3) whether the
defendant was the aggressor in the conflict.” State v.
Mayes, 14-683, pp. 2-3 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/23/14), 154
So.3d 1257, 1259, writs denied, 15-178, 15-220 (La.
11/16/15), 184 So.3d 24. Additionally, in determining
whether the defendant had a reasonable belief that the
killing was necessary, it is appropriate to consider “the
excitement and confusion of the situation, the possibility
of using force or violence short of killing, and the
defendant’s knowledge of the assailant’s bad character.”
State v. Thomas, 43,100, p. 5 (La.App. 2 Cir. 4/30/08),
981 So.2d 850, 854, writ denied, 08-1276 (La. 2/6/09),
999 So.2d 769.

“Manslaughter is [a] homicide which would be [first or second
degree murder], but the offense is committed in sudden passion or
heat of blood immediately caused by provocation sufficient to deprive
an average person of his self-control and cool reflection.” La.R.S.
14:31(A)(1). “ ‘ Sudden passion’ and ‘heat of blood’ are not elements
of the offense of manslaughter; rather they are factors which serve to
mitigate murder to manslaughter.” State v. Vercher, 14-1211, p. 10
(La.App. 3 Cir. 5/6/15), 162 So.3d 740, 746, writ denied, 15-1124
(La. 5/20/16), 191 So.3d 1065. The defendant must prove these
mitigating factors by a preponderance of the evidence. State v.
Guillory, 16-237 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/2/16), 206 So.3d 1153.

Cofer, 216 So.3d at 316-18 (alterations in original).

4

REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE AT TRIAL

We will now apply the law to the evidence at trial.

Our review of the evidence begins with the testimony of Dr. Christopher

Tape, who was accepted as an expert in medicine with a specialty in forensic

pathology. Dr. Tape performed an autopsy on Mr. Douresseau on May 18, 2015.

Dr. Tape testified there was a stab wound on Mr. Douresseau’s left side under and

slightly in front of the armpit, and a stab wound that went through the left arm.

The wound to the side went into the chest cavity and down into the left lung. The

depth of the stab wound to the chest was just under four inches. Dr. Tape testified

that the wound to the arm was consistent with a defensive wound. Dr. Tape was

further questioned about the wound to Mr. Douresseau’s arm as follows:

Q. Could it be consistent with a wild left hand punch with the
forearm being exposed with a stab occurring at the same time?

A. Perhaps.

Q. It could be, right?

A. Yes.

Q. So, then it’s not necessarily defensive is it?

A. That’s correct.

Q. So, there’s no real sure way to say defensive? It just maybe
[sic] indicative one way or the other?

A. That’s why we use the language consistent.

Dr. Tape testified Mr. Douresseau’s blood alcohol level was .15 percent. He

also had a cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine, in his system. Evidence strongly

suggested Mr. Douresseau consumed the cocaine first. However, Dr. Tape

testified there was no way to determine when the cocaine was ingested.

5

Tobie Savoie, who had ten years of experience as Deputy Coroner for St.

Landry Parish, examined Mr. Douresseau’s body at the hospital on May 15, 2015

between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Mr. Savoie noted that Mr. Douresseau had lacerations

to his left arm and left chest. Mr. Savoie did not see any weapons in Mr.

Douresseau’s possession, though he did not specifically check for weapons. Mr.

Savoie testified that a death certificate was prepared by Dr. Pavich, the coroner.

Mr. Savoie agreed with Dr. Pavich’s findings that the stab wound to Mr.

Douresseau’s left chest was fatal, and the wound to his left forearm was a

defensive wound.

Officer Corina Noblett testified that she was employed by the Eunice Police

Department. She was on duty on May 15, 2015, and was dispatched to Acadian

Village. Upon her arrival, she saw a black male laying on the ground and a black

female, who was an off-duty registered nurse, doing chest compressions on the

man. Officer Noblett took over chest compressions and was aided by Officer Mary

Guillory.

Officer Noblett did not see any weapons in the surrounding area and did not

check Mr. Douresseau’s body for weapons. She subsequently secured the scene, as

there were people in the crime scene area that had to be moved. According to

Officer Noblett, none of the onlookers got close to Mr. Douresseau during the time

chest compressions were being performed.

Officer Mary Guillory was employed by the Eunice Police Department on

May 15, 2015, and rode with Officer Noblett to Acadian Village. Upon her arrival,

Officer Guillory observed a male lying on the ground bleeding. Officer Noblett

relieved a lady doing chest compressions, and people in the area around the man

were “backed . . . off.” Officer Guillory subsequently performed chest

6

compressions on the man. Neither she nor Officer Noblett removed anything from

the area, and she did not observe any weapons.

Officer Guillory stated that a few people were still in the crime scene area

after Mr. Douresseau was removed from the scene by emergency medical

personnel but before crime scene tape was put up. After the ambulance left,

Officer Guillory kept a crime scene log. Officer Guillory testified that all persons

who entered the area after crime scene tape was put up were police officers.

Robin Willis was an EMT with St. Landry EMS. Upon his arrival at

Acadian Village, he saw a black male lying on the ground. The man, later

identified as Mr. Douresseau, was bleeding and CPR was being performed. The

man was subsequently placed in an ambulance and transported to the Acadiana

Medical Center. Mr. Willis did not observe any weapons when the man was

moved from the scene. He did not search for weapons, but testified that if there

had been a weapon in the area, he would have noted it. Mr. Willis reported “a lot”

of people, which would have been more than three or four, were present at the

scene when he arrived. This included a mix of civilians and police officers.

Kent Lavergne was employed by Acadiana Medical Center as a registered

nurse in the emergency room (ER). He started an IV on Mr. Douresseau and

helped physicians insert a chest tube. Mr. Lavergne testified that Mr. Douresseau’s

clothes were removed, placed in paper bags, and given to the Eunice Police

Department. Mr. Lavergne testified that staff typically looked for items in

clothing, and he did not find any weapons.

Shannon Martel was employed by the Acadiana Medical Center ER as a

registered nurse. He triaged Mr. Douresseau and did not find any weapons on his

7

person. Mr. Martel indicated he normally looked for weapons on persons seeking

treatment in the ER. However, a pat down would not have been conducted.

Renee Fuselier was employed by the Eunice Housing Authority. Ms.

Fuselier testified that Naomi Dupree, Defendant’s girlfriend, had executed a

dwelling lease that was to include the names of all individuals who would live in

an apartment with Ms. Dupree. Ms. Dupree did not list Defendant’s name on that

lease, and the lease was terminated after the events of May 15, 2015. Ms.

Dupree’s lease also specifically excluded the possession of weapons of any kind,

including knives. Ms. Fuselier testified that she had seen Defendant on the

premises in the past, but she did not know he resided at the apartment. Mr.

Douresseau’s mother also leased an apartment at Acadian Village, and Mr.

Douresseau’s name was not listed on her lease either. Ms. Fuselier stated,

however, that neither Defendant nor Mr. Douresseau were forbidden from being on

the premises.

Police contacted Ms. Fuselier about the events of May 15, 2015. She went

with police to review video footage of the incident at the Housing Authority’s

security substation. The footage was located on a DVR. Police requested a copy

of the footage. Ms. Fuselier did not know how to make a copy. Sergeant Nicholas

Cooley used his cell phone to record the footage as it played. Ms. Fuselier was not

contacted about the footage again until a week and a half before trial. The original

DVR footage was not available at that time because the system automatically

recorded over it two weeks to a month after the incident. All that was available

was the recording of the video on Sergeant Cooley’s cell phone.

Skylar Vidrine was the only eyewitness called to testify by the State. Ms.

Vidrine was Defendant’s first cousin and was at his girlfriend’s apartment on May

8

15, 2015. She was standing by Defendant next to the apartment when she first

noticed Mr. Douresseau walk “up to the sidewalk.” Ms. Vidrine’s sister and

Defendant’s children, who were playing on the sidewalk, were also present. Ms.

Vidrine thought Ms. Dupree was standing by the apartment door at the time.

Ms. Vidrine assumed Mr. Douresseau was walking home when she saw him,

as he lived two doors down from her at the apartment complex, and he was

walking and talking to himself. The Defendant said something while the victim,

Mr. Douresseau, was walking. Mr. Douresseau then stopped on the sidewalk and

Defendant approached him. Ms. Vidrine then testified that Defendant asked Mr.

Douresseau who he was talking to. Mr. Douresseau responded, but Ms. Vidrine

did not recall what he said. She testified that she had trouble understanding Mr.

Douresseau in the past. Mr. Douresseau continued to stand on the sidewalk and,

according to Ms. Vidrine, he did not approach the Defendant.

Ms. Vidrine was questioned about what occurred as follows:

Q. Okay. Uh, Haaymen Douresseau said something back. You
didn’t understand correct?

A. Yes, sir.

....

Q. How far do you recall Mr. Joseph Guillory going towards Mr.
Douresseau?

....

Q. Okay. Did he go, did he go passed [sic] the middle sidewalk?

A. No. He… (inaudible). It was, it was between that middle
sidewalk and that, his sidewalk by his apartment. He was right there.

Q. So, it would be, it would be considered his yard?

A. Yeah.

9

Q. Okay. If the, near the bicycle, where the bicycle was on the
corner?

A. No response recorded.

Ms. Vidrine was further questioned as follows:

Q. And when Joseph Guillory approached Haaymen Douresseau,
did you see what Haaymen Douresseau did?

A. I don’t remember.

Q, Did you watch your video this morning?

A. Yeah.

Q. Do you recall saying to the officer at the time that Haaymen
Douresseau put his arms like this?

A. Yeah.

Q. Is that what, is that what you saw?

A. Yeah.

Q. Did he have anything in his hands?

A. I don’t remember. I don’t think so.

Q. You don’t think so. He just put his arms up? I think you did
like right?

A. Yeah. Because they….

Q. Let me, let me just do something for the record. I’m holding up
my right left arm, it doesn’t make any difference, probably with my
fist even with my forehead crossed. Is that correct?

A. Yeah.

Ms. Vidrine was then asked, “And you said the first thing you saw Haaymen

Douresseau do was put his hand up in defense of?” Ms. Vidrine responded, “Yes,

sir.” She was asked if Mr. Douresseau “crossed his arms.” She indicated it was

“something like that.” Ms. Vidrine stated that Mr. Douresseau swung back “like,

like it was a fight.” Ms. Vidrine’s demonstration of Mr. Douresseau’s hands was

10

described by the State as “up about even with her forehead and the wrist, that

crosses the wrist with her hands pointing up.” She did not see Mr. Douresseau’s

hands in his pockets.

Ms. Vidrine believed Defendant struck the first blow. She saw Defendant

strike Mr. Douresseau once and saw blood on Mr. Douresseau’s arm. Ms. Vidrine

did not see anything in Defendant’s hand until after the fight. Ms. Vidrine felt that

Mr. Douresseau tried to make it to his apartment, but he fell down. Defendant

walked away after he struck Mr. Douresseau, and Ms. Dupree brought Defendant

into her apartment before Mr. Douresseau fell down. Ms. Vidrine saw a knife in

Defendant’s hand as he returned to the apartment.

Ms. Vidrine was questioned regarding weapons in Mr. Douresseau’s

possession as follows:

Q. Did you see any weapons around him at the time when he fell
down?

A. No, sir.

Q. Did you see him drop any weapon from the timer [sic] after he
disengaged until he fell down?

A. No, sir. I wasn’t close enough to see if he had anything.

Q. Well, how far do you think you were from Joseph and
Haaymen when they were fighting? What I’m going to do is I’m
going to start next to you and I’m going to back up and when you
think I’ve gotten far enough you tell me about how far you were from
them?

....

Q. Here?

A. Yeah. Because it’s like a sidewalk. I was standing next to the
apartment. t’s a sidewalk and then it’s another sidewalk across. They
was [sic] between those two sidewalks.

11

Q. Alright. I’m going to ask Ms. Uh, I’m going to give it to her.
Let the record show that I’m giving her a tape measure. Would you
tell us what it reads from me to you?
A. Eleven.

Sergeant Cooley was employed by the Eunice Police Department and

viewed the security footage at the Housing Authority. He recorded the footage

with his cell phone because the person he viewed the video with was unable to give

him a copy.1 He returned later, but the original footage had been deleted.

The cell phone video was played for the jury. Sergeant Cooley indicated

that the person on the video in white pants and a dark shirt was Defendant, and Mr.

Douresseau was the person who got out of the car. Sergeant Cooley testified

regarding the video as follows:

Q. As we look at he [sic] frame right now at 4:27 uh, is that white
car that pulled in that Haaymen Douresseau was a passenger in?

A. Yes.

Q. Okay. It’s pulling in the parking lot?

.....

A. It’s on the road.

....

Q. Who is that person that just got out of that white car?

A. That’s Haaymen Douresseau.

....

Q. Let me ask you Detective, Sgt. Cooley, based on the frame
that’s in front of you, .01 does Mr. Mr. Douresseau appear to have his
hands lifted upward in the air?

....

1
It is unclear whether this occurred on May 15 or 18, 2015.

12

A. Yes.

....

Q. At a point uh, at 00.28, 28 seconds where do you observe on the
tape Mr. Douresseau made a U turn on the sidewalk to go between
apartments?

A. He turned on the sidewalk and goes in between the apartments.

Q. Is he walking on the sidewalk?

A. It appears.

Q. It doesn’t appear that he’s wondering [sic] in the grass does it?

A. No.

Q. Did he just go through persons that are on the sidewalk?

A. He looks like he moved around some one [sic].

Q. .038 had he stopped yet in front of Mr. Guillory’s residence?

A. No.

Q. At .039 has he stopped yet?

A. No.

Q. [.]040 has he stopped yet?

A. No.

Q. [.]042 has he stopped yet?

A. Yes.

The questioning continued as follows:

Q. Okay. The darker colored clothing who is, who do you identify
that as being?

A. I identify that as Joseph Guillory.

Q. And the sidewalk that he’s coming off of or that entrance is that
to his home?

A. Yes.

13

Q. Mr. Douresseau is still in the same spot?

A. Yes.

Sergeant Cooley did not believe either party pursued the other after the

altercation. He indicated that Defendant came from his porch, and he did not

observe any evidence that led him to believe Mr. Douresseau was the aggressor.

When executing a search warrant at Ms. Dupree’s residence on the date of the

offense, Sergeant Cooley found a knife with blood on it in a dresser.

Carolyn Booker was an employee of the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory

and was accepted as an expert in the field of forensic science with a specialty in

DNA analysis. The DNA profile from the blood on the blade of the knife

recovered by police was that of Mr. Douresseau. The handle of the knife bore a

mixed DNA profile, and Mr. Douresseau was one of the contributors. The other

contributor was unknown. However, Ms. Booker did not have a sample of

Defendant’s blood for comparison.

The layout of the Housing Authority was depicted in State’s Exhibit 8.

Sergeant Cooley indicated that Mr. Douresseau’s residence was labeled “Res,” and

the star indicated where Mr. Douresseau stopped. Defense Exhibit 2, a diagram of

the area, depicted a blood trail from the location where Mr. Douresseau was

stabbed to the spot where he fell down. A “1” on the drawing indicated where the

fight started, and Mr. Douresseau’s final resting place was marked with a “2.”

Blood was found by the bicycle on the sidewalk. Part of that bicycle was on the

sidewalk and part was in the yard. Sergeant Cooley felt the stabbing occurred in

that area. Sergeant Cooley further indicated the blood was evidence that Mr.

14

Douresseau was in the grassy part of the yard. Sergeant Cooley thought Mr.

Douresseau collapsed about even with apartment 515A.

Jude Moreau was the Executive Director of the St. Landry Parish

Communications District. He was the custodian of the recorded 911 calls made in

this matter. The first 911 call was received on Friday, May 15, 2015, at 4:36 p.m.

That call was made by Defendant, who said there was an emergency, and someone

had been stabbed at Acadian Village apartment 515B on Fuselier Street.

Defendant then said he stabbed Mr. Douresseau in the arm. The call ended at 4:38

p.m. An unknown female placed the second call to 911. A third call was made by

the victim’s sister, Veronica Williams, at 4:40 p.m. The fourth call to 911 was an

inquiry regarding the failure of an ambulance to arrive.

Defendant called a single witness to testify, Naomi Dupree, who was

Defendant’s girlfriend. At the time of trial, the two had been together for twelve

years and had three children together. On May 15, 2015, the family resided at

515B Fuselier Street. Ms. Dupree testified that Defendant had permission to reside

there on his time off. However, he was not listed on her lease. Ms. Dupree knew

Mr. Douresseau because he was “always around the house and stuff.” Mr.

Douresseau was “[a]round the neighborhood” and knocked on the door for

cigarettes and rides.

On the date at issue, Ms. Dupree’s three children and Skylar Vidrine and her

little sister, Jasmine Vidrine, were also at the residence. Ms. Dupree and

Defendant were sitting on the porch, and the children were playing in the yard at a

distance, but they could be seen.

Ms. Dupree described Mr. Douresseau’s arrival at the complex as follows:

A. I recall him arriving at the complex like out of hand. Like...

15

Q. Okay. How did he get to the complex if you remember?

A. I think it was [sic] white Camry.

Q. Okay. Was he driving or?

A. He got dropped off.

Q. Okay. You said, “out of hand.” What you mean [sic] by, “out
of hand?”

A. Like something like I never seen [sic] him before. Like just got
out the [sic] car, threw his hands up like WTF. Like just going off.

Q. Going off on anyone in particular or?

A. No.

Q. Okay. Was he just kind of wondering [sic] around or did he
have a direction?

A Like whenever he got out the [sic], out the [sic] car, it was like
he was going to his mother [sic] house. But then it was like he seen
[sic] us on the porch then he turned around.

Q. Okay. So, did he come up the sidewalk?

A. No response recorded.

Ms. Dupree had never seen Mr. Douresseau act that way before. She

testified she was fearful of Mr. Douresseau at the time, fearful for her life and for

her children. He was not the same person he was on any other day. Ms. Dupree

could not see if Mr. Douresseau had anything in his hands when he arrived, and

she was not sure if he ever took anything out of his pockets. She did not see

anyone pick up a knife or weapon after Mr. Douresseau fell. Additionally, Ms.

Dupree was not sure Defendant had a knife in his hand when he left the porch. She

later stated she did not see a knife in Defendant’s hand.

Ms. Dupree indicated Mr. Douresseau passed the apartment and came back.

Ms. Dupree then stated that Mr. Douresseau came into her yard, which was a

16

grassy area and not the sidewalk. Mr. Douresseau was “going off” then. As Mr.

Douresseau was “coming,” Ms. Dupree and Defendant were still talking. Ms.

Dupree then testified that Mr. Douresseau “walked up to us, with a hand in his

pocket.” She did not recall if Defendant spoke to Mr. Douresseau at that time.

Defendant got up and asked Mr. Douresseau what was wrong. Mr. Douresseau

then swung, and Defendant stepped back. Ms. Dupree testified that Mr.

Douresseau swung twice at Defendant before Defendant swung at Mr. Douresseau.

When asked where the altercation took place, Ms. Dupree stated, “by the

sidewalk in the grass.” She was then asked if the altercation occurred in the

middle of her yard and replied, “Yes, sir.” She never saw Defendant leave what

she considered to be her yard. After the altercation, Defendant did not pursue Mr.

Douresseau, and he called 911.

The questioning of Dupree continued as follows:

Q. While Joseph was stabbing Haaymen Douresseau did you ever
see a weapon in Haaymen Douresseau’s hand?

A. I’m not sure. No, sir.

Q. Did you ever see a weapon in Haaymen Douresseau’s hand at
anytime before, during or after he was stabbed.

A. No, sir.

Q. Did Haaymen Douresseau ever say anything to you?

A. That day?

Q. That day? What is, just before he stabbed him?

A. To me he was saying it to everybody, like us and the kids.

Q. And do you remember what he was saying?

A. He was saying bad words, cursing.

Q. He was cursing?

17

A. Disrespecting like...

Q. Listen. Everybody in here looks like they’re over eighteen. So,
you tell us the words you recall?

A. “Shut the F[---] up”. All kind of things and the kids was [sic]
right there.

Q. Alright. So, that was all he said?

A. No response recorded.

Q. Did he ever say I’m going to hurt anybody?

A. I didn’t hear him say that.

....

Q. Did he ever threaten anybody that you heard?

A. No, sir.

Q. But why were you scared if he didn’t threatened [sic] anybody?

A. Because I never seen [sic] him act the way that he acted that
day. Like he wasn’t his self [sic] at all.

Q. I understand. But he didn’t threaten anybody? You just said
that.

A. But the way he was acted [sic] you never know.

....

Q. Okay. So, if you said that, he Haaymen threw the first, swung
the first blow?

A. He swung twice.

Q. He swung twice. And that’s when Joseph, you don’t know if he
had a knife? You didn’t see how many times Joseph swung, swung?

A. No, sir.

Q. Not at all?

A. All I seen [sic] the first swung [sic]. That’s it.

18

Q. And you’re saying it’s Haaymen that did the first swing?

A. I said all I seen [sic] was Joseph swing one time.

Q. Okay. Did you see Haaymen put his hands like this?

A. No sir.

Q. You never saw that?

A. No response recorded.

Q. Do you know how he got a cut in his left arm that went all the
way through the muscle of his arm, of his forearm? You know how
Haaymen got a cut like that?

A. No.

Q. You know how Haaymen got a cut that went four inches into
his lungs?

A. No, sir.

When asked if Mr. Douresseau attacked Defendant before Defendant fought back,

Ms. Dupree replied, “That day he swung twice. Yes, sir.” She informed police

that Mr. Douresseau’s hand was in his pocket.

Ms. Dupree agreed that more than ten or twenty onlookers gathered around

Mr. Douresseau after the altercation. She indicated that it took police twenty to

twenty-five minutes to arrive, and Mr. Douresseau was moved during that time.

Ms. Dupree testified that Defendant called 911 right away. She was questioned

about the 911 call occurring at 4:27 and police arriving at 4:31, which was not

twenty to thirty minutes after the altercation. She responded that police tape was

not put up right away.

The surveillance video was played for Ms. Dupree. She indicated the

sidewalk in front of her apartment ran back to the home of Mr. Douresseau’s

mother. Ms. Dupree was asked the following: “Do you recall at any point and

19

time that Joseph Guillory walked up and threatened or do anything of the sort?”

She replied, “No, sir.”

Ms. Dupree indicated the knife found in her apartment belonged to

Defendant.

The State called one witness on rebuttal. Officer Lavon Edwards was

employed by the Eunice Police Department. On May 15, 2015, she was

dispatching. Officer Edwards testified that the call regarding the incident was

received at 4:27, and people were dispatched at 4:29. Sergeant Rickey Romero

arrived at 4:31, Officer Noblett at 4:32, Officer Guillory at 4:36, Deputy Chief

Varden Guillory at 4:37, Detective Brickley at 4:46, Sergeant A.J. Frank at 4:46,

and Detective Stephanie Myers at 4:46.

The video depicts Mr. Douresseau arriving at the complex by car and

walking down a sidewalk, which several people were on or very near. Mr.

Douresseau passed the portion of the sidewalk that branched off to Defendant’s

apartment and then turned back. Defendant entered the screen from the front of his

apartment and walked up the sidewalk toward Mr. Douresseau. There was some

type of altercation between Mr. Douresseau and Defendant. However, it is

extremely difficult to determine what occurred between the two because the

altercation occurred where “CH4” is positioned on the screen. It is difficult to

determine from the video who threw the first blow, but it appeared that Mr.

Douresseau did hit Defendant. After the altercation, Defendant walked back down

the sidewalk to his apartment, and Mr. Douresseau walked backwards toward the

parking lot and onto the grass. Mr. Douresseau then walked in the direction of his

apartment and out of view.

20

Defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to negate Ms. Dupree’s

testimony that he acted in self-defense. Defendant argues that Mr. Douresseau,

who was belligerent, cursing, high on cocaine, and drunk, passed Defendant’s

home and then turned around and entered his yard. Defendant’s counsel in brief

argues that the video and testimony by Ms. Dupree at trial shows that:

Mr. Douresseau was coming at Ms. Dupree, [Defendant], and their
family, Mr. Douresseau “was just going off,” Mr. Douresseau
“walked up” to them as they were “just sitting down talking,” and had
his hand in his pocket. Ms. Dupree “was fearful for . . . [her] life and
also . . . [her] kids.”

As Mr. Mr. Douresseau approached [Defendant’s] family,
[Defendant] stood up and “asked . . . [Mr. Douresseau] what was
wrong.” Mr. Douresseau, then, swung at [Defendant] who stepped
back. After Mr. Douresseau swung twice more, [Defendant] swung
twice, fatally stabbing Mr. Douresseau.

In the alternative, Defendant contends that while in sudden passion or heat

of blood caused by conditions created by Mr. Douresseau, he did what an average

person would have done, lose his self-control and cool reflection and lash out

violently to protect his family from a belligerent, cursing man who was high on

cocaine, drunk, and approaching his family while possibly armed. Accordingly,

Defendant argues in the alternative that the jury should have found him guilty of

manslaughter.

The State avers it is abundantly clear from the video and evidence at trial

that Defendant approached Mr. Douresseau, Mr. Douresseau did not have a

weapon, and Mr. Douresseau did not threaten Defendant. The State contends there

was no testimony presented that indicated Defendant acted in self-defense. The

State additionally argues that, even if Defendant felt threatened, his stabbing Mr.

Douresseau, who was unarmed, was not reasonably necessary, as he certainly

could have used force short of killing. There was no evidence of bad character

21

presented. Furthermore, there was no evidence that Defendant reasonably believed

he was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm.

Self-defense

As previously noted, it is necessary to consider the following when

examining a claim of self-defense: 1) whether Defendant reasonably believed he

was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm, 2) whether the killing was

necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm, and 3) whether Defendant was the

aggressor in the conflict. The State had the burden of disproving Defendant’s

justification defense.

The standard set forth in La.R.S. 14:20 is whether Defendant’s subjective

belief was that he was in imminent danger of losing his life or receiving great

bodily harm and that the killing was necessary to save himself and was reasonable.

The determination of reasonableness is based on the facts of the case. See State v.

Brown, 93-1471 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/4/94), 640 So.2d 488. Factors to consider in

determining whether Defendant had a reasonable belief that the killing was

necessary are the excitement and confusion of the situation, the possibility of using

force or violence short of killing, and Defendant’s knowledge of the assailant’s bad

character. State v. Spivey, 38,243 (La.App. 2 Cir. 5/12/04), 874 So.2d 352. “In

cases where the defendant claims self-defense as a justification, the absence of a

weapon from the victim’s person or immediate reach is often a critical element of

the state’s proof. The absence of weapon on the victim, however, is not dispositive

of the issue.” State v. Griffin, 06-543, p. 9 (La.App. 3 Cir. 9/27/06), 940 So.2d

845, 851, writ denied, 07-02 (La. 9/14/07), 963 So.2d 995 (citation omitted).

In State v. Graham, 420 So.2d 1126 (La.1982), the victim had an argument

with the defendant’s brother in the door of a nightclub. The defendant joined the

22

argument, first merely having words with the victim. The argument subsequently

escalated to an exchange of punches between the victim and the defendant. At that

time, the defendant’s brother was no longer involved. The defendant was “struck

down” at least twice and, upon arising the second time, got up swinging a knife.

Id.at 1127. The defendant stabbed the victim, who subsequently died. The

defendant argued the evidence was insufficient to convict him of second degree

murder. The supreme court found:

The evidence does not show defendant in danger of great bodily harm
himself nor of passionately stepping into the fray to defend his
brother. What the evidence does show is defendant joining the
argument as an aggressor, stabbing the decedent and defendant’s prior
record of other convictions of assault, battery and other violence. We
think it quite reasonable for the jury to infer from the circumstances
the guilt of defendant.

....

The evidence also shows that defendant swung at and stabbed
the decedent with a knife, who had not, during the argument, attacked
defendant with any weapon. A rational trier of fact could have found,
beyond a reasonable doubt, that based on this evidence, the defendant
did not kill the victim in self defense, but rather in a manner sufficient
to constitute second degree murder. The evidence further shows
defendant interfered in a purely vocal quarrel between decedent and
defendant’s brother. There was no cause for defendant to interfere.
He became the aggressor and ultimately asked for the beating he
received at the hands of the victim. By pulling a knife and slashing
the decedent, defendant dramatically escalated the seriousness of the
incident to the point of no return. It is reasonable for the jury to
conclude that there was no evidence in the record to show that
defendant had drawn the knife in the “heat of blood.” Moreover, we
think the jury properly found that defendant had formed the requisite
specific intent when he drew the knife, and this may be inferred from
the overwhelming evidence. State v. McDermitt, 406 So.2d 195, 202
(La.1981).

Id. at 1127-28.

In State v. Mincey, 08-1315 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/3/09), 14 So.3d 613, the

victim was at a nightclub when he became involved in a verbal altercation with the

23

defendant. The defendant subsequently shot the victim after the victim attempted

to punch him. On appeal, the defendant argued that the state failed to disprove that

he acted in self-defense. This court held, in pertinent part:

The essence of his defense is that he was justified in responding to an
attempted punch by shooting his opponent in the chest at close range.
We recognize that Dejean had two friends with him. Thus, Defendant
may have genuinely felt endangered; further, some level of fear was
objectively reasonable. However, the level of force he used to defend
himself was far beyond what was necessary under the circumstances.

Id. at 615. See also State v. Mayes, 14-683 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/23/14), 154 So.3d

1257, writs denied, 15-178, 15-220 (La. 11/16/15), 184 So.3d 24.

Testimony presented by Defendant in this case indicated that Mr.

Douresseau may have been acting out of character in that he was talking to

himself, and he said “[s]hut the f--- up” in front of Defendant, his girlfriend, and

their children. Ms. Dupree testified that she was afraid of Mr. Douresseau, but he

never threatened anyone. She further testified that Mr. Douresseau had his hands

in his pockets. However, she never saw a weapon. Ms. Vidrine testified that

Defendant approached Mr. Douresseau and threw the first punch. Mr. Douresseau

put his hands up in a defensive manner. The video of the incident reveals Mr.

Douresseau standing on the sidewalk and Defendant coming from the area of his

apartment and approaching Mr. Douresseau on or very near the sidewalk.

We find that the evidence indicates Defendant’s alleged subjective belief

that he was in imminent danger of losing his life or receiving great bodily harm

was not reasonable. First and foremost, Defendant approached Mr. Douresseau.

Additionally, if Mr. Douresseau struck Defendant first, as claimed by Ms. Dupree,

responding to an oncoming punch by stabbing that person is an excessive response.

Furthermore, there was no evidence at trial of Mr. Douresseau’s bad character.

24

Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:21 discusses the aggressor doctrine as

follows: “A person who is the aggressor or who brings on a difficulty cannot claim

the right of self-defense unless he withdraws from the conflict in good faith and in

such a manner that his adversary knows or should know that he desires to

withdraw and discontinue the conflict.”

Both Ms. Dupree and Ms. Vidrine testified that Defendant left the front of

his apartment and approached Mr. Douresseau, which is supported by the video.

Furthermore, Ms. Vidrine testified that Defendant struck Mr. Douresseau first.

Though Ms. Dupree said that Mr. Douresseau struck the first blow, based on Ms.

Vidrine’s testimony and considering all the evidence, the jury had ample evidence

with which to conclude that Defendant was the aggressor and could not claim self-

defense. See Graham, 420 So.2d 1126.

We find that the facts of the case demonstrate that Defendant’s actions

exceeded the level of force reasonably and apparently necessary to defend himself

or others against an unarmed man. Accordingly, we find that the State presented

sufficient evidence to disprove Defendant’s claim of self-defense.

Second Degree Murder

We now look to whether there was sufficient evidence to support

Defendant’s conviction of second degree murder.

Specific intent to kill can be inferred from the intentional use of a
deadly weapon such as a knife or a gun. State v. Knight, 09–359, p. 14
(La.App. 5 Cir. 2/9/10), 34 So.3d 307, 317, writ denied, 10–2444
(La.10/21/11), 73 So.3d 376. Specific intent to kill may be inferred
from the extent and severity of the victim’s injuries. State v. Stacker,
02–768 (La.App. 5 Cir. 12/30/02), 836 So.2d 601, 606, writ denied,
03–0411 (La. 10/10/03), 855 So.2d 327.

State v. Thibodeaux, 15-723, p. 9 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/13/16), 190 So.3d 426, 433,

writ denied, 16-844 (La. 4/24/17), 220 So.3d 741 (quoting State v. Riley, 11-673, p.

25

11 (La.App. 5 Cir. 3/13/12), 90 So.3d 1144, 1150, writ denied, 12-855 (La.

9/28/12), 98 So.3d 828).

Defendant stabbed an unarmed man under the arm with a knife, puncturing

his lung. Based on all of the evidence presented, viewed, as we must, in the light

most favorable to the prosecution, we agree that the State proved beyond a

reasonable doubt that Defendant had the specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily

harm upon Mr. Douresseau. See State v. Strother, 09-2357 (La. 10/22/10), 49

So.3d 372. Thus, we find that Defendant’s Assignment of Error Number One,

insufficient evidence to convict Defendant of second degree murder, is without

merit.

Manslaughter

The Defendant argues in the alternative that the jury should have returned a

responsive verdict of manslaughter. To be entitled to a responsive verdict of

manslaughter, Defendant was required to prove the mitigating factors of sudden

passion and heat of blood by a preponderance of the evidence. Cofer, 216 So.3d

313. “[T]here is no requirement that the factors be affirmatively established by the

defendant. Instead, the jury is free to infer the mitigating circumstances from the

evidence.” State v. Lindsey, 98-1064, p. 5 (La.App. 4 Cir. 6/3/98), 715 So.2d 544,

547.

Generally, arguments do not suffice to reduce a murder to
manslaughter. State v. Miller, 98–642 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/28/98), 720
So.2d 829, writ denied, 98–3119 (La.5/14/99), 741 So.2d 659.
Additionally, . . . “[m]ere words or gestures, however offensive or
insulting, will not reduce homicide from murder to manslaughter.”
State v. Mitchell, 39,202, p. 12 (La.App. 2 Cir. 12/15/04), 889 So.2d
1257, 1263, writ denied, 05–132 (La.4/29/05), 901 So.2d 1063.

State v. Watson, 15-392, p. 12 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/7/15), 175 So.3d 1192, 1200-01,

writ denied, 15-2046 (La. 11/7/16), 208 So.3d 897.

26

In State v. Bell, 442 So.2d 715, (La.App. 1 Cir. 1983), writ denied, 444

So.2d 1244 (La.1984), the defendant was convicted of second degree murder.

While the defendant and the victim were visiting the home of a friend, the victim

said, “‘I better get the hell out of here before some stuff starts,” or something to

that effect. The victim then struck the defendant with his fist. A fight ensued, and

the victim was stabbed multiple times with a knife having a twelve-inch blade. On

appeal, the defendant argued the most serious crime committed was manslaughter.

The first circuit held:

We find no provocation sufficient to deprive an average person
of his self-control. An extremely intoxicated and not visibly armed
man struck defendant, using only his fist. There was no evidence of
previous “bad blood,” threats, or any other circumstances that would
increase the significance of the simple act of striking. We cannot
conclude an average person would be so inflamed by the strike as to
lose his self control and cool reflection in the way this defendant did.

Id. at 718.

In State v. Bratton, 49,434 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1/14/15), 161 So.3d 937, writ

denied, 15-303 (La. 11/20/15), 180 So.3d 317, the defendant argued the evidence

supported a conviction of manslaughter rather than second degree murder. The

second circuit addressed the issue, stating:

In his statement to police, Bratton said that Hammett “said something
stupid” to him, but he testified at trial that he was upset over
something that Hammett had said to Veronica. None of this vague and
conflicting evidence supplies proof that an average person would have
been reasonably provoked to lethal violence.

Id. at 944.

In State v. Gauthier, 546 So.2d 652, 654 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1989), the fourth

circuit stated: “Even assuming that defendant’s allegations are true that Lee cursed

at him at the dance and when telling him to move out of the way of the car, these

27

actions are certainly not the type of provocation which would justify shooting

someone.”

In State v. Shanks, 97-1885 (La.App. 1 Cir. 6/29/98), 715 So.2d 157, the

victim went to the defendant’s home to collect money the defendant owed him for

a prior purchase of marijuana. Once inside the defendant’s home, the victim began

demanding money and an argument ensued. The victim struck the defendant once

on the left side of the cheek and once on the left side of the neck. As the victim

turned to walk out the door, the defendant picked up a shotgun and fired one time

at waist level. During his statement to police, the defendant stated, “‘[N]o mother

f------ is going to come in my house and hit me.’” Id. at 162. On appeal, the

defendant argued that the evidence was insufficient to prove second degree

murder. Alternatively, the defendant argued that the court should find that the

evidence supported a conviction of manslaughter. The court concluded the

following:

It is obvious the majority of the jury concluded this homicide was not
committed in sudden passion or heat of blood immediately caused by
provocation sufficient to deprive an average person of his self-control
and cool reflection; or that, if there was such provocation, defendant’s
blood had actually cooled, or an average person’s blood would have
cooled, at the time the offense was committed.

Id.

In this case, the jury had ample evidence with which to conclude that cursing

in front of Defendant’s children, insulting Defendant, and possibly even hitting

Defendant (if Ms. Dupree were to be believed) were not sufficient provocation to

deprive an average person of his self-control and cool reflection. We find that

viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of

fact could have found that the mitigating factors were not established by a

28

preponderance of the evidence and that there was proof, beyond a reasonable doubt

and to the exclusion of any reasonable hypothesis of innocence, that Defendant

committed second degree murder. Therefore, we find this assignment of error

lacks merit.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO

In his second assignment of error, Defendant contends the loss of what he

claims to be “exculpatory evidence,” the original tape of the confrontation from the

apartment complex video, denied him his constitutional rights of confrontation and

due process.

Defendant argues the State failed to preserve the exculpatory digital

surveillance footage of the incident. He claims that the cell phone video of the

footage was extremely hard to see, and the cell phone video did not allow the jury

to view critical moments of the incident. Defendant contends he was denied use of

the surveillance footage evidence due solely to the carelessness of the State. He

claims the evidence presented did not exclude the reasonable possibility that he

acted in self-defense or committed manslaughter, and the surveillance footage

would have shown he did.

Defendant further contends that even if the evidence was not exculpatory,

there are due process implications in the destruction of pertinent evidence prior to

trial. He argues the State and the police department must be held accountable and

must operate well enough to maintain custody of critical evidence. He claims the

loss of the digital recording in this case was not the result of good-faith adherence

to standard police procedures. Thus, the State should have been precluded from

proceeding to trial.

29

Defendant failed to object to the admission of the cell phone video of the

Acadian Village security footage, State’s Exhibit 6, or to it being played for the

jury. 2 That failure precludes Defendant from raising this issue on appeal. See

La.Code Evid. art. 841. Accordingly, we decline to address the merits of this

assignment of error.

CONCLUSION

Defendant’s conviction and sentence are affirmed. The trial court is ordered

to correct the sentencing minutes to accurately reflect that Defendant’s sentence is

to be served at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of

sentence.

AFFIRMED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

2
The issue was raised in Defendant’s motion for new trial. However, he has not asked
this court to consider the trial court’s denial of that motion.

30