Contact Dorian Amir Morris
	Dorian Morris # 591345 Morehouse Parish Correctional Facility 6444 Patey Rd Collinston, LA 71229
	DOB: April 1, 1992

Dorian A. Morris' case data
Status	possibly not-guilty/ (or self-defense)
State and County	Louisiana, Union Parish
Case No.	44,184
Crime	One count of manslaughter
Date of Crime	March 24, 2007
Date of Arrest	March 24, 2007
Date of Conviction	October 24, 2011
Sentence	15 years hard labor
Age at the Date of Crime	15
Contributing Factors	Perjury, False Confession, Official Misconduct, Ineffectiveness of Counsel
Did DNA evidence contribute to the conviction?	No
Is there DNA evidence to test?	Yes

Introduction

Anthony Dismuke had a big birthday party for his little sister Jerica Dismuke in the Bernice Civic Clubhouse on March 24, 2007. Around 100 people attended the party. Dorian Morris was one of the many invited guests. He belonged to the youngest kids. Others were between 18 and 22 years old. Jerica and Dorian knew each other from Spearsville High School. Dorian says he did not even know that anybody had been stabbed there until Bernice Police Officer Dewayne Jackson stopped him and Denarious Loyd down the highway on their way back home to Spearsville around midnight.

What had happened before the party?

There was an on-going conflict between two groups of youngsters from Bernice and Spearsville because of a tournament that had taken place weeks earlier.

According to Denarius Loyd’s statement to police, LaGarrio Thompson (aka “Garrio”) from Bernice had tried to arrange for Dorian to be brought to that party so that the Bernice mob could attack the minor.

What happened at the party?

This is Dorian’s version:

When I arrived at the party, LaGarrio Thompson and several other guys came up to me and acted like they wanted to beat me up (even going as far as saying that “We gonna get your bitch ass!” and that I was not going to leave there alive). I had a knife that I always carried, and I let them know that I had it, hoping that it would make them leave me alone.

I ended up standing outside with Alicia Ferguson for most of the party to stay away from them. Eventually, my friend Chimorrika Williams (who I was dropped off at the party with) called my father and stepmother to come get me, because these guys were still talking about jumping on me. While I talked to my dad, Denarius Loyd was getting ready to leave. 

I was waiting for Denarius to ride with him, when Michael Champion blocked Denarious’ car in with his car and was playing loud music. Probably 40 or more guys surrounded the area where I was standing with my friends from Spearsville and started throwing cups and bottles and stuff. Denarius told me that if I was riding with him, I better hurry.

I went to retrieve my jacket from my friend Acquanetta Nathan when I was stopped by several derogatory statements from Carlos Tidwell. He and I got into an argument. I noticed that there were a few guys standing near his vehicle that looked as if they might want to attack me. Carlos made statements that were referring to him retrieving a weapon from his trunk. The argument got more intense and Carlos raised off the hood of his vehicle like he wanted to approach me.

I exposed my knife to maybe scare him from pursuing his intentions. Carlos still acted aggressively, so I flinched at him with my knife in hopes that he might discontinue the altercation he started. I turned away from Carlos to end the conflict and I noticed that the Bernice crowd had formed a massive group of people surrounding the few from Spearsville apparently wanting to fight or start an altercation. I could see that bottles were still being thrown and it was definetely getting out of hand.

I hurried to Denarius’ car, but before I made it, someone called my name and almost immediately after turning around to see who it was I was struck in my left eye. (See photos in the video.) I started panicking, because I knew the jumping was about to take place that the Bernice boys eagerly wanted to pursue. By this time, my left eye was so swollen that I could not see out of it.

I noticed someone approaching me fast and that person and I began to fight. After a few seconds into the fight others began to jump in and hit me. I remember getting hit from so many directions I fell to the ground only to get up with more people surrounding me.

I pulled my knife out and began swinging it in every direction, because I was scared and I feared for my life. After swinging my knife everyone backed away, which gave me a chance to run. As I was running, I could hear them chasing me. I ended up running through another smaller crowd and someone tripped me. I thought they were going to jump me also, surprisingly they let me get up to start running again.

I looked behind me and noticed that LaGarrio Thompson was one of those chasing me. I continued to run and I ran around all the parked cars trying to make it to Denarius’ vehicle hoping he would be there already. When I made it to his car, Denarius was nowhere to be found. Still panicking, calling Denarius’ name, trying to get in the back seat behind the driver’s seat, but for some odd reason the door would not open.

There I stood scared, hoping not to get jumped again. Markus Jones, who was around the age of 19 or 20 years hit me across the head with a large liquor bottle. I stumbled a little. I then got struck in the back of the head with a very thick piece of wood (a log of some sort). I turned around after stumbling and saw that it was LaGarrio who had hit me.

I then saw Denarius coming. He told me to get in the car. I said it was locked. When the doors finally came open, Denarius and I were trying to leave and Markus Jones threw a big piece of wood at Denarius’ back window. It did not bust the glass. Denarius stopped his car and I told him to keep going before the situation got worse.

While we were a minute from leaving the party, Officer DeWayne Jackson arrested me at gun point. Jackson asked me where the knife was. Denarius had put it in the glove box before we were stopped and he told the officer that it was there. Officer Jackson saw my injuries and asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I replied yes.

The question remains: Who did stab Donzelharris Woods?

1. If Dorian actually stabbed the victim, it happened when he defended his life from an attack by about 15 to 20 or more grown men.
2. Or another person, who was at that party, is the actual perpetrator.

Police Misconduct

Two units were called to the scene. The patrol officers were DeWayne Jackson and Danny Doster. Doster was Bernice assistant chief of police and an ex-Constable for Ward 3 of Union Parish. Danny Lane Doster died in December of 2008 at the age of 62.

The stabbed victim, Donzelharris Woods, was laying on the ground heavily bleeding from his neck. No ambulance arrived, although the hospital was less than a half mile away. Some of the kids eventually rushed and transported Donzelharris to the Tri-Ward Hospital themselves. The sixteen year old boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Because people blamed Dorian for the life threatening injury, they pointed at Denarius’ car and yelled that the perpetrator was leaving. Officer Jackson chased the vehicle, stopped Denarius and Dorian, and arrested Dorian.

In the meantime, Officer Danny Doster allowed everyone to leave the party without getting their names or questioning them. Doster left the crime scene himself and followed his colleague Jackson to the stop on the highway. Later he was dispatched to the hospital for a “disturbance”, when the victim had just passed away there.

Why did Officer Doster not focus on the people at the crime scene? Why did he not call for assistance? Why did he not do anything to help the victim?

Q: Do you know who brought the victim over?

A: No, I do not, sir.

Q: You haven’t taken any statements from any witnesses, have you?

A: No, sir.

Q: What did you do for the 11 minutes you were there until you went to Officer Jackson’s vehicle?

A: I was with the victim, watching him.

Q: That’s it?

A: Yes, sir.

Ineffectiveness of Counsel

No trial preparation: Some days after the party and arrest, Dorian Morris’ defense attorney Lavalle Salomon took photos of Dorian’s injuries stemming from the beatings and he began to arrange a deal with the prosecutor for his client, but he did not work on a defense on the juvenile’s behalf.

Defense attorney Salomon and Dorian’s step-brother (then an assistant district attorney for Caddo Parish) both explained to Dorian that because he had a knife, and because someone was stabbed, Dorian’s guilt was obvious. Both lawyers told the juvenile that because there were witnesses who saw Dorian with a knife and he brandished his weapon twice, it looked like Dorian was trying to hurt someone. Their conclusion was that Dorian had to be found guilty even if he had been attacked. They warned him that the district attorney would put the victim’s mother on the stand, that she would start to cry, and the jury would change its mind. The prosecutor would “shoot for life,” and the judge would want Dorian to plead, although he did not know the details.

According to counsel, the 15-year-plea allegedly was the best Dorian could do in his situation.

Violation of right for speedy trial: In jail, Dorian met defense attorney Salomon twice during the 4 1/2 years awaiting trial.

Excessive bail: Dorian’s attorney made a simple request to reduce bail, but made no mention of the brutal attack against Dorian’s person. Result: 4 1/2 years of Dorian’s youth were wasted in jail waiting for trial, because his family could not afford to post bail.

No “mens rea”: Dorian was initially charged with manslaughter, then indicted for second degree murder under Louisiana Statute 14:30.1. The facts of his case dispute this charge upgrade. There was no specific intent to kill anyone or inflict great bodily harm, not only because Morris did not know the deceased, but also because of the pre-meditated group attack that occurred in the midst of this. His retained attorney did not pursue.

No use of Dorian’s exculpatory evidence:
Attorney possessed exculpatory depositions from a civil case (Regina Chatman and Donzell Hicks versus Victor Morris, Et Al) that paralleled Dorian’s criminal case, but did not use this information: One witness said that he’d told police what he had heard and that he hadn’t actually seen anything (what he had ‘heard’ was used to indict Dorian)

One witness detailed how Dorian was attacked by a large group of people at the party he was invited to, with the victim initiating the attack after being prodded to by another attacker whose statement was used to indict Dorian.

One witness detailed how the attackers had harassed Dorian at the party, and how Dorian had tried to stay away from them to prevent any issues.

As early as May 18, 2007, attorney possessed names of as many as 10 of those older teenagers and grown men who attacked Dorian. This list included at least 3 people whose statements were used to indict Dorian for second degree murder.

Defense attorney Salomon never discussed the lack of evidence against Dorian.

Salomon even told Dorian that DNA was not important. (Dorian’s knife had a blood drop on the handle that was consistent with the location of the wound on his hand he held the knife with – DNA was never tested)

All 7 indictment witnesses stated that they did not see Dorian Morris stab the deceased, but Dorian’s attorney told him that there were a dozen or so witnesses against him.

No appeal: A gentleman from Dorian’s prior home state California donated US$ 5,000 toward the boy’s defense fund to file his appeals, as Attorney Scott Killen (of Ruston) had said this amount would “get things started” for a US$ 12,000 to US$ 15,000 appeals cost. Killen took these US$ 5,000 in December of 2011, did not file appeals that Dorian is aware of on his behalf, and did not try to contact anyone of his supporters (e.g. aunt, godmother, Dorian himself) at all. The family says that the lawyer did not answer emails or voicemails, and never was in his office.

Summary

No witnesses saw Dorian stab anyone. There are witness statements that describe his innocence, including the victim’s family. Dorian had a knife to be able to defend himself for a good reason. Denarius Loyd testified that the attack on Dorian had been planned. The victim was much taller and heavier (weight: 210 pounds, height: 72 inches) than Dorian (weight: 154 pounds, height: 57 inches). It is hard to imagine that Dorian cut Donzelharris Woods’ neck and chest 4-5 inches deep without even realizing it. Police officer Dewayne Jackson’s deposition shows that he would not have excluded self-defense. The DNA on Dorian’s knife was never tested. Why not?

“I do know that some of the people who gave statements against Dorian were the same ones who jumped on him that night. Dorian’s incarceration is serving no purpose because the person who killed my nephew walks free today.” (Laura Glosson, the victim’s aunt)

How you can help

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The murder weapon has the victim’s blood on it. Dorian’s knife should be examined and tested at last. A luminol test could prove whether or not someone was cut or even stabbed with Dorian’s knife that night. If there is blood on his knife, it should be compared to Donzelharris Woods’ DNA.

The clothes that Dorian wore on the night were supposed to have been tested for traces as well. They were taken at Green Oaks Detention Center, but never tested.

Dorian needs a DNA expert and a post-conviction attorney.

Documents

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris8.pdf
Union Parish E-911 Dispatch Log
March 24 and 25, 2007 around midnight

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris11.pdf
Victim Donzelharris Woods’ Autopsy Report
March 26, 2007
“Direction of wound path – front towards the back and downward. Estimated depth of penetration – 4-5 inches.”

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris17.pdf
Witness Statement by Markish/ Marquish Simmons (March 26, 2007, 10:13 AM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris19.pdf
Witness Statement by Denarius Loyd (March 26, 2007, 1:40 PM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris16.pdf
Witness Statement by LaGarrio Thompson (March 26, 2007, 2:00 PM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris18.pdf
Witness Statement by Patrick Mitchell (March 27, 2007, 11:05 AM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris21.pdf
72-hour-hearing: Officer DeWayne Jackson’s testimony (March 27, 2007)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris22.pdf
72-hour-hearing: Officer Danny Doster’s testimony (March 27, 2007)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris12.pdf
Witness Statement by Breanna Sims (March 27, 2007, 1:22 PM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris13.pdf
Witness Statement by DePaul Elliot (March 28, 2007, 10:56 AM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris14.pdf
Witness Statement by NiCarlo Tidwell (March 28, 2007, 11:20 AM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris15.pdf
Witness Statement by Brigetta Glosson (March 30, 2007, 11:37 AM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris10.pdf
March 29, 2007: The News Star mentions Dorian’s full name in its article “Investigators continue hunt for answers in teen stabbing” by Sharryn Harvey.

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris20.pdf
Antonio Dismuke’s Deposition (August 8, 2008, 10:10 AM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris23.pdf
Jerica Dismuke’s Deposition (August 8, 2008, 10:55 AM)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris6.pdf
Court Minutes (2007-2011)
Violation of right to speedy trial: Dorian sat in jail for over 4 ½ years (March 25, 2007 to October 24, 2011) of his youth before his plea bargaining, wanting to go to trial. Approximately every 3 months, he would go to the court house, and they would remand/postpone his trial.
Dorian’s bail was set at $200,000.00. He was a good student with the poverty-stricken family that could not afford the percentage needed to get him out. Dorian’s attorney made a simple request to reduce bail, but made no mention of the brutal attack against Dorian’s person.
Cruel and unusual punishment: Dorian was held in solitary confinement for at least 2 ½ years at the Union Parish DC adult facility – he was 16 when he was initially put in this facility (April 2007).

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris5.pdf
Union Parish Clerk of Court’s Case Display (2007-2012)

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris7.pdf (20 pages)
Guilty-Plea and Sentencing
before Judge R. Wayne Smith
Third Judicial District Court, Parish of Union, State of Louisiana
October 24, 2011

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris9.pdf
Request for Documents from the District Attorney’s Office (July 9, 2012)
and Response of July 17, 2012

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris24.pdf
The victim’s family’s notarized affidavits (from Donzelharris Woods’ mother, father, grandmother and aunt) requesting Dorian Morris’ immediate release from prison (June 2012 and July 2013).
“I do know that some of the people who gave statements against Dorian were the same ones who jumped on him that night. Dorian’s incarceration is serving no purpose because the person who killed my nephew walks free today.”

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris1.pdf
Petition for Post-Conviction Relief (PCR)
filed on October 24, 2013
Third Judicial District Court, Parish of Union, State of Louisiana

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris2.pdf
Court Order
filed on November 22, 2013
Third Judicial District Court, Parish of Union, State of Louisiana

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris3.pdf
Defendant’s Response to Court Order
filed on December 6, 2013
Third Judicial District Court, Parish of Union, State of Louisiana

http://www.iippi.org/pdf/dorianmorris4.pdf
State’s Response to PCR
filed on December 26, 2013
Third Judicial District Court, Parish of Union, State of Louisiana

External Links

https://www.facebook.com/groups/20459481382/
Facebook Group: Free Dorian Morris

http://ojj.la.gov/index.php
Office of Juvenile Justice