Man charged in Auburn slayings appears in court

Published 1:41 pm Thursday, June 14, 2012

OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — A Montgomery man accused of killing three people in a shooting at a party near Auburn University was held without bond Thursday.

A judge appointed three attorneys to represent Desmonte Leonard, 22, when he said he couldn’t pay for his defense. Leonard faces three counts of capital murder and two assault charges in the shootings that apparently occurred after a fight over a woman. He is accused of killing two former Auburn University football players and another man. He also wounded a current player.

One of the attorneys appointed to represent Leonard was Susan James, who helped Leonard turn himself after an intense three-day manhunt.

Leonard wore blue jeans and a black T-shirt. He was shackled at his hands and feet during the brief appearance.

“Do you understand the charges against you?” Lee County District Judge Russell Bush said.

“Yes sir,” Leonard said.

There were several dozen spectators in the courtroom including a group that appeared to be Leonard’s family and friends.

Killed were former Auburn players Edward Christian, who had to quit the team because of a lingering back injury and Ladarious Phillips, who was transferring to Jacksonville State to play football. Also slain was Demario Pitts.

Of the three wounded, current Auburn football player Eric Mack and Xavier Moss were both treated and released from a hospital. The third person hurt, John Robertson, was in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head.

Auburn University spokesman Mike Clardy said there will be a candlelight vigil on the lawn of Samford Hall at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Meanwhile, a teenager accused of hindering prosecution in the Leonard case pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a separate case in Montgomery.

Jeremy Thomas, 18, pleaded guilty Wednesday in the 2011 shooting death of a 14-year-old girl in Montgomery, Chief Deputy District Attorney Daryl Bailey said.

He is scheduled for sentencing July 12.