A tragic event that took place in Prattville in 2020 resulted in a 25-year-old Montgomery man being handed a life sentence, along with an additional 50 years, after being found guilty of manslaughter and felony assault charges. The victim’s family can now find some closure, knowing that justice has been served in this case.
In April, Sir James Edward Raby was found guilty after a day-and-a-half trial. The charges against him were for murder and felony assault, stemming from shootings that took place during a Halloween night party at Brantwood Apartments. However, the jury ultimately convicted him of the lesser charge of manslaughter and the assault charge.
According to court records, Circuit Judge Bill Lewis has handed down a life sentence in prison for the manslaughter conviction and 50 years for the assault conviction. His order specifies that the sentences are to be served consecutively. It’s worth noting that manslaughter is a Class B felony with a maximum punishment of 20 years behind bars.
In spite of Raby’s four previous felony convictions, the state requested that he be sentenced under the Habitual Felons Act, which carries a life sentence. Unfortunately, the judge granted this request, and Raby was sentenced to life in prison. It’s worth noting that Raby was on parole at the time of the Prattville shooting, which led the judge to determine that he posed a threat to the public. This also played a role in the decision to impose a life sentence.
The court found Raby guilty of committing manslaughter in the tragic incident that resulted in the death of Jerode Baskin. Furthermore, Raby was also charged with assault for shooting Jerreus Rudolph. The conviction and charges are a stark reminder of the consequences of one’s actions, and the importance of being responsible for one’s behavior.
During the trial, the defence team claimed that the accused acted in self-defense. However, the presiding judge, Lewis, made a ruling before the trial began that the Stand Your Ground Law in Alabama did not apply to this case. If the law had been applicable, the charges against Raby would have been dismissed.
During the trial, witnesses revealed that Raby and another individual attended a Halloween party held at the Brantwood Apartments. As per the testimony, Raby brought along an AR-15-style pistol that he had concealed in the front of his pants.
At the party, Rudolph and another man were present. According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Josh Cochran, a friend of Raby’s accidentally bumped into Rudolph’s friend, leading to a brief exchange of words. As a result, Rudolph and his companion decided to leave the party and headed to Baskin’s apartment, which was located in the same apartment complex. Their objective was to retrieve his older brother.
According to Cochran, the group decided to head back to the party and have a discussion with Raby and the other man on the balcony to resolve any misunderstandings.
According to Cochran, the matter had been resolved, but Raby had a large firearm tucked in the front of his pants and began firing.
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