For Immediate Release:
October 4, 2023
For press inquiries only, contact:
Amanda Priest (334) 322-5694
Cameron Mixon (334) 242-7491
(Montgomery)—Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction of Mondrell Kenee Ward, 31, of Huntsville, for murder. Ward was convicted in the Madison County Circuit Court on August 12, 2022.
The evidence at trial showed that Ward went to the Biltmore Place apartments on July 15, 2017, and engaged the victim, Ezekiel Briggs, in a lengthy argument. Ward left the apartment complex, but later returned and resumed his argument with the victim, which concluded with Ward shooting the victim in the face. The victim died from his injuries, and the shooting was captured on videotapes which were later played for the jury. One of the witnesses testified at trial that Ward actually threatened him during the trial proceedings. All of this was captured on courthouse security video and was later admitted into evidence at trial.
Madison County District Attorney Robert Broussard’s office successfully prosecuted this case and obtained a guilty verdict. Ward was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for his conviction. Ward sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division handled the case during the appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm Ward’s conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued Friday, September 15, 2023.
Attorney General Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General Kristi O. Wilkerson for her successful work on this case and thanks District Attorney Robert Broussard and his staff for their valuable assistance in defending the murder conviction.
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