Antonio James

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Antonio James (died March 1, 1996) was an American murderer. He was tried and executed in Louisiana for the murder of Henry Silver.

1 Prior criminal history
2 Murder of Henry Silver
3 Trial
4 Execution
5 Sources

[edit] Prior criminal history

James had amassed a very extensive juvenile and criminal record by the time he was tried for the murder of Silver. The post-sentence investigation report prepared for the sentencing court listed thirty-seven juvenile incidents. James was ordered confined to the Louisiana Training Institute at age fourteen. In 1973, he was convicted of attempted armed robbery and sentenced to serve three years at the state penitentiary. During this period of confinement, he was convicted of attempted simple escape. He was released in 1975. In 1978, he was charged with aggravated rape, but the charge was later refused by the prosecution. James was convicted of the first degree murder of Alvin Adams on January 23, 1979 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was convicted of the January 26, 1979 armed robbery of Robert Hooten and was sentenced to ninety-nine years for this offense, the maximum under Louisiana law.

[edit] Murder of Henry Silver

On January 1, 1979, James, approached seventy year old Henry Silver as the latter was getting out of his car in his neighborhood in New Orleans. James placed a gun to Mr. Silver's head and demanded his money. When Mr. Silver shouted for help, James placed the gun under Silver's right ear, cocked the hammer, and fired a shot into Mr. Silver's head. James then rifled through Silver's pockets and removed his wallet containing thirty-five dollars. He drove away in a nearby waiting car. Mr. Silver died a few hours later at Charity Hospital. James was arrested on January 26, 1979 when he bungled another armed robbery attempt and was shot with his own gun. He was indicted for first degree murder. In December 1981, a jury found him guilty as charged. After deliberation, the same jury unanimously recommended that the defendant be sentenced to death.

[edit] Trial

He was indicted for first degree murder by an Orleans Parish Grand Jury. In December 1981, a jury found him guilty as charged at a trial where the principal witness against James was his accomplice, Levon Price. After deliberation, the same jury unanimously recommended that the defendant be sentenced to death.

[edit] Execution

On March 1, 1996, James was executed by lethal injection at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The execution team had difficulty locating a vein to insert the catheter into his arm in order to commence the execution. Warden Burl Cain requested that James make a fist in order to assist the process. James compiled in this request.

James declined to give a final statement. However, Warden Cain later provided that James stated "Bless you", as he was strapped to the execution gurney. His last meal was fried oysters and crab gumbo.

James' execution was the subject of an ABC News documentary on Prime Time Live.