FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
December 21, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG STRANGE ANNOUNCES COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
UPHOLDS MARSHALL COUNTY CAPITAL MURDER CONVICTION
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced that the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday upheld the capital murder conviction of
Jessie Livell Phillips. Phillips, 36, of Albertville, was convicted in Marshall Circuit
Court in September of 2012 for the murder of his wife, Erica Phillips, and her unborn
child.
Evidence was presented at trial that on February 27, 2009, Phillips and his wife,
who was eight weeks pregnant, were arguing in their vehicle when Phillips pulled out a
gun and shot Erica in the head. The murder occurred in a car wash bay in Guntersville,
and a witness to the shooting notified police. An Albertville police officer who was on
the lookout for Phillips’ vehicle spotted him pulling up to the Albertville Police
Department. Phillips was still carrying the murder weapon, and surrendered to the
officer. Phillips told police officers that he and his wife had been arguing all during the
day about a deal he made regarding a car, and that he shot her. Erica Phillips and the
unborn child died as a result of the shooting.
The case was prosecuted at trial by Marshall County District Attorney Steve
Marshall’s office. Phillips was convicted and sentenced to death. He subsequently
sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
The Attorney General’s Capital Litigation Section handled the case during the
appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the
conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued on Friday, December 18.
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorney General Clay
Crenshaw, Chief of his Appeals Division, for his successful work in this case.
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www.ago.state.al.us
