A capital murder trial has been set for a Beaumont man accused of killing his four roommates.
Lively James Stratton, Jr.’s trial is expected to start April 25. He was indicted for capital murder after allegedly shooting his roommates Sept. 29, 2019. All five lived in a duplex in the 4100 block of Highland Avenue, where the shooting occurred just before 12:15 p.m., according to court documents.
The state already has decided against seeking the death penalty. This means if he makes it to trial and is found guilty, he will face a mandatory life sentence without parole, 252nd Criminal District Court Judge Raquel West in Jefferson County said earlier this month during court.
Stratton previously confirmed to the judge that he “did not want to look at or discuss an offer that the state is willing to make.”
At the time, the attorneys did not know if the trial would take one or two weeks but expected it to be an “intensive trial.” West did not previously say whether the four alleged murders would be tried separately or as one case, but Stratton’s defense attorney expressed concern about the possibility of “double jeopardy” if the cases were tried separately.
meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com
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