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James White pleads guilty in the killing of Jackie Neal PDF Print E-mail
James White, who last month rejected a plea deal that would have saved him from a possible death sentence changed his mind again on Wednesday (February 22, 2006).
James White, 39, admitted in court Wednesday that he shot and killed his former girlfriend, musician Jackie Neal, on March 10, 2005 while she was inside a Florida Boulevard nail salon.
State District Judge Richard Anderson sentenced White to life plus 50 years in prison as part of the plea deal. White pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Neal’s death and attempted first-degree murder for shooting Angela Myers who attempted to flee the salon.

White was expected to take the plea deal Jan. 18. At the last minute, with Neal’s family watching, White changed his mind. Prosecutor Tracey Barbera warned him then that the offer would be taken off the table if he rejected it.

White’s decision to plead guilty Wednesday to the crimes came as a surprise to Barbera and defense attorney Nelvil Hollingsworth. Both expected the Wednesday hearing to be about routine pre-trial matters.

On Wednesday, Barbera said she agreed to the deal because Neal’s family members told her it would help bring closure.

“I relied on Jackie’s mother,” Barbera said.

Hollingsworth said after court he thinks White was scared during the January hearing.

“I think he changed his mind after the realization of what a death-penalty case would entail sunk in,” Hollingsworth said. “I believe James White’s life was spared by the Christianity of the victim’s family and by the integrity of Tracey Barbera.

“It takes a lot of courage to do the right thing,” the defense attorney said.

After the January hearing, a disappointed Shirley Neal, Jackie’s mother, said she wanted this ordeal to be finished.

On Wednesday, Shirley Neal took the witness stand and told White she does not hate him, but she does hate the fact that he took her daughter’s life.

White apologized to the Neal family in court.

White, who was scheduled to go on trial May 2, had confessed to shooting Neal. Anderson had ruled that prosecutors could present that confession to jurors at trial.

Neal was shot three times March 10 inside the crowded T’Nails and Hair Salon at 4369 Florida Blvd. White wounded Neal’s friend Angela Myers.

After shooting Neal and wounding Myers, White lay down on top of Neal and shot himself in the chest.

Neal, the daughter of Baton Rouge blues man Raful Neal and the sister of musician Kenny Neal, released four of her own CDs before she was slain.

First-degree murder carries a penalty of life in prison or death by lethal injection.

Source
ADRIAN ANGELETTE
Advocate staff writer
 
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