On July 13, 1994, an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted Jimmy Ray Williams for the first degree murder of Gordon Lawless in violation of La. R.S. 14:30. After a trial by jury, the defendant was found guilty as charged. After a sentencing hearing, the same jury that determined the issue of guilt, unanimously returned a verdict of death, finding as a single aggravating circumstance that the defendant was engaged in the perpetration of an attempted armed robbery. The trial Judge sentenced the defendant to death in accordance with the jurys recommendation.
