Dukes v. State
Dukes v. State
Opinion of the Court
¶ 1. Terry Dukes was indicted for the crime of deliberate design murder of Lecia Jones, his former girlfriend. In a jury trial, which commenced on February 23, 2004, Dukes was found guilty. Dukes received a life sentence for his crime. Aggrieved, Dukes has appealed his conviction. Dukes has not identified for this Court any errors which he suggests requires reversal. The brief of Dukes’ counsel consists of two paragraphs, wherein he states that his review of the record revealed no reversible errors.
FACTS
¶ 2. On the evening of February 5, 2002, Lecia Jones was at home with her daughter and family friend, Jesse Barnes. Leaving his vehicle at Jones’ house, Barnes left in Jones’ truck to carry a movie to her sister. While Barnes was gone, Dukes parked his car and walked two blocks to the home of Jones. At some point after arriving at the home of Jones, Duke inflicted stab wounds, which resulted in her death.
¶ 3. Two witnesses testified that on the evening of February 5, 2002, a man fitting Dukes’ description was seen lurking around Jones’ house trying to gain entry into the home through one of two doors. Dukes testified that Jones let him in the house. He stated that upon being invited in by Jones, he questioned her about the black truck outside. Dukes further stated that when Jones did not answer his questions, he grabbed a knife and headed toward the door to puncture the truck’s tires. He indicated that Jones got in the way and was stabbed. Dukes testified that, at that point, he blacked out and did not remember what else happened. Jones was pronounced dead in Memphis, Tennessee, with two fatal stab wounds in her abdomen and one fatal stab wound in her skull.
DISCUSSION
¶ 4. Dukes court-appointed counsel filed an appellate brief pursuant to Turner v. State, 818 So.2d 1186 (Miss. 2001).
¶ 5. As in Eaton v. State, 913 So.2d 413 (Miss.Ct.App. 2005), this case is distinguished from Lindsey in that the attorney’s brief complied with Turner, and no pro se brief was filed.
¶ 6. THE JUDGMENT OF THE COA-HOMA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF CONVICTION OF MURDER AND SENTENCE TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS AFFIRMED. ALL COST OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO COAHOMA COUNTY.
. Dukes' brief contains one paragraph stating that his attorney could not find any reversible error in the record that might support an appeal.
. On February 28, 2005, this Court issued an order to Dukes to allow him forty (40) days to file a pro se brief. To this date, no pro se brief has been filed by Dukes.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.