Man gets second life sentence over 2015 murders
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A judge sentenced Zebulum James to life in prison for the 2015 murder of Kristy Mitchell.
James was then removed from the court for obstruction of justice after arguing with the judge.
Mitchell was shot and killed in a restaurant parking lot in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
The jury deliberated last week and found him guilty of capital murder.
Mitchell was from Missouri but happened to be visiting Ridgeland on business at the time.
James is already serving a life sentence after a jury found him guilty of shooting and killing 48-year-old Suzanne Hogan in what police called a shooting spree.
Hogan’s family spoke at the 2019 trial after Zebulum James was sentenced to life in prison.
Hogan’s father called James “a worthless human” being during Victim Impact Statements following the guilty sentence.
James admitted to firing the shots but maintains he was not in his right mind.
“To the family of the deceased, I am sorry and that’s not gonna bring your loved one back,” James told the Hogan family. “If I could take their place I promise you I would, and I might be joining them very soon.”
The convicted shooter’s apology to the family fell on deaf ears.
“You try to get sympathy because you don’t get to see your daughter,” said Arthur Hogan, Suzanne Hogan’s father. “We will never see our daughter again. Fact is, it’s a sad thing the death penalty was not sought in this case. If anyone deserves it, it’s you.”
Investigators say James has a mental illness but was ruled fit-to-stand trial in both cases.
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