Judge Denies Re-trial for Lonnie Brown

   A Hardin County judge has denied a re-trial for a man sentenced to four years in prison for shooting and killing a 19 year old during a dispute about a pit bulldog.

   Judge Britt Plunk made the decision Friday to deny the re-trial

   In February, a Hardin County Jury convicted Lonnie Brown of manslaughter and a judge sentenced him to four years in prison.

   Brown was on trial for murder in the shooting death of 19 year old Justin Slider, but the jury convicted him of a lesser charge.

   The shooting happened in March of 2006 at Bubba's Trailer Park outside of Silsbee.

   Brown says he confronted the 19 year old following complaints about Slider's pit bulldog. Brown claimes he shot Slider in self defense.

   Judge Plunk held a hearing in April on Brown's request for a re-trial.

   Criminal Defense Attorney Bo Horka called three witnesses to the stand to prove his claim that Justin Sliders' parents could have influenced the jury.

   The witnesses, Lonnie Browns' two daughters and wife, testified they saw Sliders' parents eating lunch near jurors at Mama Jack's Restaurant during the trial.

   The witnesses stated there was plenty of room for the Sliders' to eat anywhere in the restaurant; however, they chose to go upstairs and eat near the jurors.

   Also, Horka believes the state was deceptive when prosecutors presented the charges to the jury.

   Bo Horka said, "It's tough to make a decision and overturn a jury, but if he feels like they were confused and that the law that was presented to him was not proper, that it was mistakenly put in there by the prosecutors."