A former Yazoo County woman has been sentenced to 20 years with 15 to serve after being convicted of manslaughter in a case involving the death of her father.
Courtney Williams was sentenced after a Yazoo County jury found her guilty of manslaughter on April 6.
The September 1, 2019, crime involved the Defendant stabbing her father, James Williams of Bentonia, twice in the back inside the family home.
Williams was initially charged with murder, but after a two-day trial in which the defendant gave several conflicting statements as to the reason why she stabbed her father, the Yazoo County Jury convicted her of manslaughter.
At the sentencing hearing, members of the Williams’ family and her friends pleaded with the court for leniency for the defendant.
While giving a Victim Impact Statement, Catherine Smith, surviving sister of James Williams, stated that, although she didn’t have the opportunity to stand up for her brother previously, she wanted to speak up now, especially as her brother would never have the opportunity to enjoy his four grandchildren, including twin granddaughters who were born after his death. Smith asked the court to give Courtney the maximum sentence for her crime, as she would like to see that justice is done for her brother.
Williams was sentenced by a Special Circuit Court Judge to a term of twenty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for her crime of Manslaughter, with fifteen years to serve, five years suspended and placed on five years of Supervised Probation.
Acting on behalf of the state from the office of District Attorney Akillie Malone Oliver, were Assistant District Attorneys Sharon A. Spencer and Walter Bleck.
was initially charged with murder, but after a two-day trial in which the defendant gave several conflicting statements as to the reason why she stabbed her father, the Yazoo County Jury convicted her of manslaughter.
At the sentencing hearing, members of the Williams’ family and her friends pleaded with the court for leniency for the defendant.
While giving a Victim Impact Statement, Catherine Smith, surviving sister of James Williams, stated that, although she didn’t have the opportunity to stand up for her brother previously, she wanted to speak up now, especially as her brother would never have the opportunity to enjoy his four grandchildren, including twin granddaughters who were born after his death. Smith asked the court to give Courtney the maximum sentence for her crime, as she would like to see that justice is done for her brother.
Williams was sentenced by a Special Circuit Court Judge to a term of twenty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for her crime of Manslaughter, with fifteen years to serve, five years suspended and placed on five years of Supervised Probation.
Acting on behalf of the state from the office of District Attorney Akillie Malone Oliver, were Assistant District Attorneys Sharon A. Spencer and Walter Bleck.
