OFF DEATH ROW SINCE 04-29-93

DOB: 12-13-1960
DOC#: 911826 Black Male

Porter County Superior Court
Judge Thomas W. Webber, Sr.

Venued from LaPorte County

Prosecutor: William F. Herrbach

Defense: Donald W. Pagos, William Janes

Date of Murder: December 15, 1989

Victim(s): Gayle Taylor W/F/35 (No relationship to James)

Method of Murder: shooting with handgun

Summary: James entered an Insurance agency in Michigan City intending to rob. He instructed Gayle Taylor, an employee, to give him her ring, and she complied. He moved Taylor to a back room where she was shot once in the head with a handgun.

James was identified going into the Agency. Upon his arrest, James attempted to swallow a ring, later identified as Taylor's engagement ring. James then gave a full confession, but said that when he took Taylor to the back room, an argument ensued and the gun went off accidentally. An ISP blood splatter expert testified that Taylor's head was 1 foot from the floor when shot, implying that she was shot while on the ground, not accidentally during a scuffle.

Conviction: Felony-Murder, Habitual Offender

Sentencing: February 28, 1991 (Death Sentence, 30 year enhancement of sentence for Murder in the event Death Sentence is overturned)

Aggravating Circumstances: b (1) Robbery

Mitigating Circumstances: None

11-29-93 James resentenced to 60 years for Murder and 30 years for Habitual Offender, consecutive.