THIBODAUX, La., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A Louisiana man accused of killing and decapitating his disabled son has been assigned an attorney knowledgeable in death penalty cases.
District Judge Ashly Bruce Simpson selected Kerry Cuccia, director of the Capital Defense Project of Southeast Louisiana, to represent 30-year-old Jeremiah Wright, The Daily Comet of Thibodaux, La., reported.
Wright is accused of killing 7-year-old Jori Lirette, who suffered from cerebral palsy, on Aug. 14 and placing the boy's head outside his Thibodaux home. The dismembered body was found nearby.
Police said a murder weapon has not been identified but family members said Wright used a meat cleaver to decapitate the boy, who was confined to a wheelchair, the newspaper reported.
Jori's mother, Jesslyn Lirette, said she hopes her boyfriend of 10 years ultimately receives the death penalty.
District Attorney Cam Morvant II said it is too early to decide whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Wright.
