A convicted murderer originally sentenced to death for a 2003 murder of a local minister and the attempted murder of his victim’s widow returned to Caddo District Court this week after an appeal upheld his conviction but overturned the death penalty he had received.
Robert Glen Coleman, 46, of Caddo Parish, appeared briefly Thursday, May 26, 2016, before Caddo Parish District Judge Katherine Dorroh. In lieu of the death penalty, he received a sentence of life in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. The sentence was imposed after consultation with the victims’ family members and with the agreement of Coleman’s counsel, to forego a third sentencing hearing and bring closure sought by the family.
Coleman was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 2005 for the 2003 murder of 70-year-old Blanchard minister Julian Brandon. Rev. Brandon was murdered and his wife, Alice, was permanently disabled during an attack that took place in their residence.
The Louisiana Supreme Court reversed his conviction and sentence in 2007 for a jury selection error. He was re-tried in 2012 and again found guilty as charged and sentenced to death. Upon review, the Louisiana Supreme Court in February affirmed his conviction but reversed his death sentence and remanded for a new sentencing hearing.
The state was represented in court by Suzanne Williams, appellate section chief. Coleman was represented by Letty DiGiulio of New Orleans.