[LA] Former Police Officer Pickney's upgraded murder charge means now he may get life sentence for killing Chanda

There's no justice that can bring Chanda back, but the prosecutor and Chanda's parents are doing every thing that they can to make sure Donald Pickney is held accountable for the heinous crime he's charged with committing, brutally stealing mama Chanda from life and life from Chanda.

Former Opelousas Police officer Donald Pickney has been indicted for second degree murder in his wife Chanda's death... Rapides Parish prosecutor Rocky Willson said that if Pickney is convicted on the murder charge, he faces life in prison... In a lawsuit filed by Chanda Pickney's parents after her death, court documents allege that two days before she died, Pickney "physically abused and handcuffed her, would not allow her to leave the residence, and ultimately killed her on Oct. 29, 2011." The suit also said

Chanda knew she was going to die...

FROM NOV 2011 POST: ...Both of the Pickney's were employed at the Alexandria [Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Pineville] - Donald as a full-time police officer and Chanda as a physician's assistant... Donald Pickney previously served in the Marines, in the the Louisiana National Guard and in law enforcement with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office and the Opelousas Police Department... Donald Pickney had been dismissed from the Sheriff's Office after repeated complaints of stalking were filed against him by his first wife...

FROM FEB 2012 POST: ...The suit states [4 year old] Ethan was at the family's Timberlake subdivision home while his mother, Chanda Pickney, allegedly was held captive and killed in late October... The language in the [parent's law]suit and evidence in the criminal case being developed against Donald Pickney strongly suggest he tortured Chanda for two to three days before she died Oct. 29...

YESTERDAY: 

FORMER OFFICER INDICTED IN WIFE'S MURDER
KATC
Mar 30, 2012
[Excerpts] A former Opelousas Police officer has been indicted in his wife's murder. Donald Pickney, 44, is accused in the second degree murder of his wife, Chanda, 33... Donald Pickney previously served in the Marines, in the the Louisiana National Guard and in law enforcement with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office and the Opelousas Police Department... [Full article here]

MAN INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE IN WIFE'S DEATH
The Associated Press
March 30, 2012
[Excerpts] A 44-year-old Woodworth man has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge by a Rapides Parish grand jury in the October 2011 death of his wife... 44-year-old Donald Pickney, originally was charged in a bill of information with manslaughter, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 40 years. Rapides Parish prosecutor Rocky Willson said that if Pickney is convicted on the murder charge, he faces life in prison. Chanda Pickney, 33, was pronounced dead on Oct. 29 at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, where the staff suspected foul play and called Rapides Parish sheriff's investigators... A trial on the original charge of manslaughter was to begin the week of April 16... In a lawsuit filed by Chanda Pickney's parents after her death, court documents allege that two days before she died, Pickney "physically abused and handcuffed her, would not allow her to leave the residence, and ultimately killed her on Oct. 29, 2011." The suit also said Chanda knew she was going to die. In a February pretrial hearing, District Judge Thomas Yeager allowed into evidence crime-scene photos taken at the Timberlake home, including photographs of the couple's bathtub, scratches on the footboard of the couple's bed, blood spots on the bed, a handcuff pouch, bruises behind one of Chanda's ears, and injuries to her mouth and on the inside of her calves, court records show... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety lethal fatality fatalities murder torture louisiana state politics]