BR man convicted in murder of teen in 2004

• By KORAN ADDO
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Mar 30, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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A district court jury convicted a Baton Rouge man Saturday of second-degree murder of a 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy in 2004, rejecting defense arguments the prosecution had put the wrong man on trial.

Cordell Collins, 31, stoic throughout the four-day trial in 19th Judicial District Court, did not react as the verdict was read. He looked at his family and pumped a fist as bailiffs escorted him out of the courtroom. Under Louisiana law, second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence in prison.

Jennifer George, mother of the murder victim, Leroy George Jr., was in tears as she left the courtroom.

George, said she visits her son’s grave every year on his birthday, Jan. 7. On Saturday, she said she hasn’t been able to celebrate anything since her son was slain more than four years ago.

“This is closure,” she said. “Now I’m at peace.”

During closing arguments, prosecutor Steven Pugh said Collins and another man carjacked the victim and his uncle, Travis Pope, on Jan. 3, 2004.

After forcing George and Pope into the trunk, the assailants drove around until they stopped at 1111 Rodin Drive, where the victims were let out of the trunk and shot several times, Pugh told the jury.

George died, but Pope survived because of his “will to live,” Pugh said.

Defense attorney Bruce Unangst characterized the prosecution’s case as “garbage” during his closing arguments. He told jurors that Pope, under the influence of morphine in his hospital bed when police interviewed him, was unable to give any descriptions or distinguishing characteristics of his attackers.

Unangst illustrated his point by removing the facial features of a Mr. Potato Head doll and throwing them into a trash can.

“There is not a single piece of blood, or sweat or any DNA evidence linking Mr. Collins to this crime,” Unangst said. “My hope is that (prosecutors) prosecute the right person.”

In response, Assistant District Attorney Barry Fontenot accused the defense of trying to trick Pope into giving conflicting testimony by showing the witness a “doctored” black-and-white photo lineup with another man’s face superimposed onto Collins’ hairline.

Fontenot said defense attorneys presented the black-and- white lineup to Pope as if it were an exact copy of the color photo lineup shown Pope in February 2004, when he originally named Collins as his attacker.