Natchez man found guilty of second-degree murder

Published 5:34 pm Friday, September 23, 2016

 

NATCHEZ — A Natchez man was found guilty of second-degree murder Friday in the 2015 shooting of a man outside his estranged wife’s residence.

Casey S. Woods, 43, 125 Gaylor Road, was found guilty of killing Pierre Tenner on May 24, 2015.

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Woods had been charged with first-degree murder. The jury opted Friday to convict Woods on the lesser charge.

The shooting took place around 12:30 p.m. in the driveway of 14 Hampton Court, the residence of Tenner’s estranged wife, Doris Tenner. Pierre Tenner was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. at Merit Health Natchez.

Defense attorney Zach Jex argued Woods was acting in self-defense that day. Jex said in closing statements Woods was allowed to be on that property, he was reasonable to be afraid of Pierre Tenner because he knew what the man was capable of, and he acted in self-defense and in defense of Doris Tenner and her property.

Jex also called into doubt the Natchez Police Department investigation for not looking into a domestic disturbance between Pierre Tenner and Doris Tenner on May 4, in which Pierre Tenner admitted in a statement that during a tussle a shotgun blast went off.

Assistant District Attorney Tim Cotton said Woods didn’t have to kill Pierre Turner, who was heavily intoxicated and only 153 pounds.

Cotton said Woods went back into the residence of Doris twice during the arguments, leaving with a gun the second time and shooting Pierre Tenner before driving off.

Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders delayed sentencing until Sept. 28 at 3 p.m.

Woods is facing life in prison.