Trahan found guilty

By: Theresa Mayard

After roughly an hour and a half of deliberation, the jury found Paxton Trahan guilty of second-degree murder of his father, James Robert Trahan.

The verdict was met with tears from Trahan’s family.

“You have to respect the jury’s opinion,” said Burton Guidry after the verdict was announced. “You may not agree with it, as is the case here, but you always have to respect it.”

However, Guidry said he has every intention to appealing Trahan’s case.

Before the closing arguments and deliberation, the state presented three forensic specialists to testify about the murder weapons and the crime scenes.

Douglas Meloncon, from Acadian Criminologist Lab in New Iberia, explained to the jury the firearm and firearm accessories found at the crime scene. He identified the shot shell cases from the gun that were found in various locations of Trahan’s residence.

The state also called Dr. Joel Carney, M.D., of Louisiana Pathology, who performed the autopsy on Trahan’s father. Carney said in detail, upon the body’s arrival, he noticed a gunshot wound to the head and that Trahan’s body was almost completely charred.

To review the evidence found in the residence, the state called Sgt. Elliot Broussard, who was the detective who headed the Trahan recovery case. He said Trahan’s body was dumped in water along T. Earl Rd, in a remote area with almost no surrounding homes. He said dumbbells and a tire were used to weight Trahan’s body. He also reviewed the items found at Trahan’s home, which were submitted into evidence yesterday.

In the cross-examination of all three witnesses, Trahan’s attorney, Guidry, pointed out that none of the evidence found for the case has actual DNA proof that Trahan was the murderer.

“We all act differently to tragedy,” said Guidry during his closing arguments. “Sometimes we say things, but we don’t execute them. My biggest fear is that you’ll take what happened and bootstrap it to this young man. You can’t be guilty of murder by association.”

“Paxton was more than a willing follower, said Ted Ayo in his closing arguments.

“You must decide what role Trahan played in the murder of his father. When you shoot someone at close range with a shotgun, you intend to kill.”

Ayo made a point to dismiss the idea that Trahan was innocent because Harrington actually pulled the trigger.

“No, he didn’t pull the trigger and he didn’t hold the gun,” he said. “But he planned, he kicked the door in and plotted with Brady Harrington.”

Guidry asked the jury to keep in mind all the evidence and emphasized the lack of DNA evidence connecting Trahan to the actual murder.

“We can’t base this on assumptions,” concluded Guidry. “You have to use your heart and gut on this decision.”

“Don’t get too hung up on DNA because this isn’t CSI,” said Ayo during his rebuttal, “this is real life.”

Trahan will face sentencing on June 4.