Appellate court affirms conviction of Violet man who murdered stepfather in 2020
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A Louisiana appellate court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of a Violet man who murdered his stepfather four years ago.
Joel Lehmann, now 39, was convicted in February 2023 of first-degree murder for killing his stepfather Richard Scott on Jan. 17, 2020. Scott was struck in the head with a shovel, then shot to death after being forced to kneel in the dining room of their home.
Lehmann, who was found guilty after a four-day trial, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He claimed in his appeal that the state did not meet its burden of proving that the shooting was not committed in self-defense, but a three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal rejected his argument Monday (Feb. 5), affirming his conviction and sentence.
“Based on Mr. Lehmann’s own statements, it is evident that he was the aggressor, and there is no evidence that he ever attempted to withdraw from the conflict with Mr. Scott,” the panel concluded in an opinion written by Judge Karen Herman.
SBSO investigating fatal shooting in Violet, person of interest sought
Violet man arrested for fatal shooting of stepfather
Lehmann’s mother testified at his trial that Scott had issues with her son, because he was unemployed and still living in her home in his mid-30s.
“My son and myself have always been close,” Darlene Scott told the jury. “My son has almost lived with me his entire life. ... But I know my son loves me and I love him. And I feel that he felt that my husband was in the way.”
Herman wrote in the court opinion, “Her husband believed that Mr. Lehmann needed to get a job and move on with his life. She did not think her son liked that idea of Mr. Scott putting his two cents in, because that was getting in the way of Ms. Scott taking care of him.”
Lehmann testified at his trial that he was sorry he killed his stepfather and that he loved him very much, but claimed he feared for his life the day he killed Richard Scott because he had touched his stepfather’s crossbow after being told not to.
“I can’t explain exactly what I thought or felt at the time because it happened so fast, but I didn’t have time to stop and have, like, a conscious thought of what to do or how to do it,” Lehmann told the jury. “You know, it just -- it just unfolded. Before I realized really what happened, it was over with.”
Lehmann also admitted on the witness stand that he did not see Richard Scott armed with a weapon at any point during their deadly argument, and had not considered leaving the house.
The appellate court reiterated state law pertaining to a homicide committed in self-defense.
“A homicide is justifiable ‘when committed in self-defense by one who reasonably believes that he is in imminent danger of losing his life or receiving great bodily harm and that the killing is necessary to save himself from that danger.’ However, “(a) person who is the aggressor or who brings on a difficulty cannot claim the right of self-defense unless he withdraws from the conflict in good faith and in such a manner that his adversary knows or should know that he desires to withdraw and discontinue the conflict,” Herman wrote.
“The state ... carried its burden of proving that Mr. Lehmann did not act in self-defense. The only evidence offered to support the self-defense claim was Mr. Lehmann’s own self-serving statement that he killed Mr. Scott because he was in fear for his life. However, Mr. Lehmann admitted that Mr. Scott was unarmed at all times. ... There were no ‘very real threats’ imminently directed at Mr. Lehmann.
“Finally, based on Mr. Lehmann’s own statements, it is evident that he was the aggressor, and there is no evidence that he ever attempted to withdraw from the conflict with Mr. Scott.”
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.
Copyright 2024 WVUE. All rights reserved.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p7vXcaOirpVjsLC5jmtna2xfZX9wfJZomKmolaG5osDEZpqoraKpeqKyxaKppqtdmLyvwsicq6KnnmLDqrvLnqtmpZGjeri0zmakrqqUmr%2BmsIysq56olpbBqbHRZmlpamBk