Jones County Circuit Judge Billy Joe Landrum sentenced former Laurel physician Malachy DeHenre Thursday morning to serve 20 years in prison for killing his wife 11 years ago. A jury convicted DeHenre of manslaughter in January following a three-day murder trial. The sentence is the maximum for a manslaughter conviction.
DeHenre was convicted of killing his wife, Dr. Nyasah DeHenre, at their Laurel residence on Jan. 23, 1997. DeHenre’s first trial 10 years ago ended in a mistrial, with an 11-1 vote by the jury for acquittal.
Three of four of DeHenre’s children made pleas to the judge for a lesser sentence.
DeHenre took the stand in his own defense during the trial, testifying for nearly an hour. He said he did not shoot his wife, that she was holding the gun and when he tried to stop her from shooting herself, the gun discharged.
Local News
DeHenre receives maximum sentence
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Arrest made in bomb threat
A 19-year-old Jones County Junior College student was arrested Tuesday in connection with a bomb threat to a building on the school’s campus earlier in the day.
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City council votes 5-1 to restrict transient vendors
With little discussion, the Laurel City Council voted to put restrictions on transient vendors operating in the city and to change the grade level of the city’s building inspector.
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Aspiring to greatness
The Rev. Leander Bridges was the keynote speaker at Jones County Junior College’s Black History Program Tuesday.
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JCJC’s student health fair focusing on prevention
Jones County Junior College students recently had the opportunity to discover the true meaning of Benjamin Franklin’s motto, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” at the college’s Student Health Fair. Hundreds of students took advantage of the opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics including behavioral problems, nutrition, fitness, and foot care.
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Arbor Day set for Feb. 10
The City of Laurel is recognizing Arbor Day and Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack has proclaimed Friday, Feb. 10th, as Arbor Day in the City of Laurel.
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Zoo owners ask judge to return animals
The owners of the Collins Zoo have asked a judge to return 11 animals seized by state wildlife officers in January.
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Several injured in separate 84 East wrecks
The jaws of life were used at about 4:55 p.m. Saturday to free victims of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 84 East, the second serious accident in that area in two days.
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Animal cruelty case under investigation
Officials are continuing to investigate a case where several animals were seized last week from a home in the Beat Four Community of Wayne County.
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Piazza becomes city’s Public Defender
In a special ceremony last week at Laurel City Hall, local attorney John Piazza was sworn in as the City of Laurel Public Defender.
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Jasper County officials work to make upgrades at fire station, voting precinct
Jasper County officials are continuing to work to make improvements at one of the county’s fire stations and voting precincts.
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