KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & SportsCaddo jury recommends death for Coleman

A Caddo Parish jury has unanimously agreed Robert Coleman should get the death penalty.

Coleman was found guilty of first degree murder on Friday for a second time in the first-degree murder of retired Blanchard minister Julian Brandon.

The jury had the option of choosing life in prison or the death penalty, and took just over two hours to return the verdict. 

Judge Mike Pitman set February 15 as a deadline for filing any motions. Formal sentencing is set for February 24th. 

KSLA News 12's Brittany Pieper was in the courtroom for the reading of the verdict in the penalty phase of the trial.  She says there was no noticeable reaction from Coleman, and the families of both the victims and the defendant remained composed.

It was clearly a difficult decision for the jury. Two of them cried openly upon the reading of the verdict, and were emotional when it came to their turn to affirm their agreement on the death penalty.

Defense attorneys asked that jury members be polled on the verdict and all 12 confirmed their verdict. The defense also asked that jurors be polled on whether or not they found Coleman mentally retarded and all 12 confirmed they did not find him mentally retarded.

After the verdict was read Coleman's attorney, Bruce Unangst, said, "I am very sad that the death continues."

The victim's daughter, Julie Lloyd, sent a statement to KSLA News 12 after the trial saying, "On behalf of the Rev. Julian Brandon's family, we are pleased with the jury's death penalty decision.  To know that justice has been served is the best ending to the nightmare we have relived this past week. Thanks to everyone who served on the jury.  We appreciate your time, attention, and patience throughout this exhausting trial.  Thank you for your careful consideration of the evidence presented in the prosecution of Robert Coleman.  May God bless you in all things."

Assistant District Attorney, Lea Hall, said, "It's the end of a long haul and a lot of hard work.  We're really pleased to see that justice was served again.  It was a hard case for everybody involved.  To be at this point and having that verdict confirmed again, it was extraordinary."

Caddo Parish ADAs Lea Hall, Dale Cox and Brady O'Callaghan prosecuted the case.

Related stories:

• Judge denies Coleman defense motion for mistrial
• Jury expected to begin Coleman sentencing deliberations
• Jurors hear about another murder in Coleman sentencing phase
• Coleman found guilty for a second time for minister's murder
• Coleman case goes to jury in murder re-trial
• Victim's daughter, DNA expert take stand in Coleman re-trial
• Coleman cell mate clams up on stand during re-trial
• Coleman re-trial Day 2: Prosecutors lay out the evidence
• Coleman re-trial: First day of testimony wraps up
• Coleman re-trial update: Opening arguments wrap, testimony begins
• Caddo DA will seek death penalty in Coleman re-trial
• High court won't review death penalty in Louisiana
• Wife of murdered Blanchard minister dies five years after crime

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