Jury sentences convicted killer to death by lethal injection

The capital murder trial of David Lee Dickerson at the Copiah County Courthouse in Hazlehurst ended Tuesday with a guilty verdict on all three counts of capital murder, armed robbery and arson in the brutal death of Paula Hamilton, with whom he shared a daughter, in 2011.

The case was turned over to the jury late Tuesday afternoon, and the members wasted little time in deciding.  After deliberating for around and hour, Dickerson’s fate was known.

On Wednesday, the same jury returned a sentence of death by lethal injection for the capital murder charge after hearing arguments from attorneys all day.  Dickerson was also sentenced to 40 years for armed robbery and 20 for arson, both of which will run concurrent with the death sentence.

As per state statute, an appeal for the death sentence will be made automatically. 

Look for complete coverage in next week’s print edition of the Copiah County Courier.