Social Media Posts Discussed Ahead Of Trial For Man Accused Of Killing TPD Investigator

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The capital murder case against a Tuscaloosa man accused of killing a Tuscaloosa Police investigator in 2019 is still on schedule for a jury trial next month after a pre-trial conference hearing was held Monday morning in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court.

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As Patch previously reported, TPD Investigator Dornell Cousette on the night on Sept. 16, 2019, went to a residence at 1709 33rd Avenue to serve an arrest warrant on Luther Bernard Watkins, Jr., for an outstanding robbery charge.

Both sides agree that Watkins ran into the house, followed by Cousette, who was shot by Watkins just inside the door. Investigators at the time then claimed that Cousette was able to return fire at Watkins, before Watkins fled the scene and Cousette was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center. He later died from his injuries.

Watkins was later located at DCH's hospital in Northport, where he was being treated for a gunshot wound. After his arrest, his defense attorneys argued that he was shot first in the back and chest, before acting in self-defense after Cousette arrived at the scene assisting a bail bondsman in serving the arrest writ on Watkins and not acting in his official duty as a police officer.

One of Watkins' previous defense attorneys also argued that Cousette’s supervisor had just "explicitly denied him permission" to serve the arrest warrant and raised additional claims that Cousette ignored the order.

Retired Circuit Court Judge Brad Almond is presiding over the case, which is set for trial on Feb. 2, and previously ruled that Watkins' claims of self-defense did not give him immunity from prosecution ahead of a jury trial.

District Attorney Hays Webb is prosecuting the case and reaffirmed to the local media Monday that the death penalty was still being sought against Watkins.

Monday's hearing consisted primarily of arguments over Facebook posts make by Watkins that prosecutors said established that he was "habitually armed" in the time leading up to the shooting, which would have given Cousette a reason to believe that deadly force might be necessary to apprehend him while serving the arrest warrant.

Webb insisted that Watkins presented himself to the public as a "gunslinger" through these Facebook posts, posting that he carried a "stick" — slang for a gun — the day before Cousette was killed.

Judge Almond questioned if this truly established a "habit," commenting from the bench that "I get up every morning and turn my coffee pot on. That is my habit."

Without ruling on the matter Monday, Judge Almond then pondered on if the Facebook posts fell short of proving that Watkins habitually carried a gun, to the point that Cousette would've been justified in feeling the need to use deadly force before he was sure if Watkins was armed.

"This is just standard sort of stuff before a trial," Webb commented to reporters outside of the courtroom after Monday's hearing. "I know normally it doesn't have this level of interest but this is pretty standard stuff that the court will take up when there are issues still pending to help make the trial move as smoothly as possible. The judge heard arguments from both sides about a couple of different issues and he's given us some time to go back and put these arguments in writing."

Webb expressed confidence that the trial would go on as scheduled in the first week of February and said that the packed courtroom Monday was excused to discuss juvenile matters pertaining to the case that were under seal and not to be discussed publicly.

He also declined to comment further on the Facebook posts mentioned during the hearing.

"Anything we were talking about was stuff that was pre-incarceration, pre-incident, so I'm not going to speak to the posts that have been made since he's been incarcerated, or anything about him," Webb said.

Watkins remains behind bars and without bond in the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

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