Man loses appeal of murder conviction Court affirms verdict in dismemberment case

901-333-2014

James Hawkins, a Memphis man convicted in 2011 and sentenced to death for the murder and dismemberment of the mother of his three children, lost an appeal of the verdict in the case.

The Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals issued a ruling Friday affirming the guilty verdict, stating that Hawkins failed to prove that the court erred in his case.

“In accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-206(c), we have considered the entire record and conclude that the sentence of death has not been imposed arbitrarily, that the evidence supports the trial courts finding of the statutory circumstances, that the evidence supports the trial courts finding that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt, and that the sentence is not disproportionate,” the court said in the ruling.

“We in DeSoto County. The have also victim’s head was never reviewed recovered. all issues Hawkins was convicted raised by of first-degree murder and defendant sentenced to death. and conclude In August 2011, Hawkins there was given an additional 18 is no reversible years in prison. Hawkins, error. who has 19 prior felony The judgments convictions, was sentenced of the trial court are to the maximum affirmed.” 12 years for filing a false

Hawkins, now 38, was missing person report convicted in June 2011 in and six years for abuse of the stabbing and strangulation a corpse. of Charlene Gaither, Hawkins appealed the 28, on Feb. 9, 2008, in their verdict in his trial, contending Raleigh apartment. among several reasons

According to testimony that the court erred by during the trial, he made denying his motion to suppress his 12-year-old daughter his statements given help him dismember the to the police and by admitting body with an electric circular statements made by saw and dispose of the victim through the victim’s her mother’s body parts children and through James Hawkins an application for order of protection.

The appeal court, however, rejected those arguments from Hawkins, who did not testify during his trial. His three children did, including his then15-year-old daughter, who witnessed her mother’s murder.

James Hawkins Jr. is on death row at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville as the 12-step death penalty appeals process continues.

His father, James Hawkins Sr., is serving 50 years after his conviction last year for raping two family members.