State won’t seek death penalty for Flowers

The state will not seek the death penalty for an Enterprise man charged with capital murder in connection with the beating death of his great grandfather.

At a Feb. 4 scheduling conference before Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judge Jeff Kelley, Twelfth Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Mary Katherine Head told the court that Twelfth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tom Anderson will not seek the death penalty in connection with the case that began May 18, 2017.

Jzurih Khalil Flowers has been in Coffee County Jail on no bond since his arrest in connection with the beating death of Ray Lee Flowers May 18, 2017. Flowers was originally charged with attempted murder after allegedly beating the 73-year-old with a cane. The victim died early the next day without ever regaining consciousness, according to court testimony.

At the scheduling conference Feb. 4, Kelley approved Flowers’ attorneys Carmen Howell and James Tarbox’s request for a mental evaluation for their client to determine his mental competence at the time the beating death occurred. No trial date was set and is pending the results of the mental evaluation.

At the time of this most recent arrest, Flowers had been on probation on a charge of breaking and entering a vehicle. Consequently, Flowers has also been charged with violation of probation.

Testimony at Flowers’ initial court appearance in May 2017 revealed that Enterprise Police Department officers responded to a residence in the 100 Block of Grimsley Street after dispatchers received a 911 call advising them that an individual was acting disorderly at that location.

In a June 2017 court hearing, EPD Detective Matt Saxon told the court that he responded to a dispatch call for back up assistance at a residence at 113 Grimsley Street shortly after noon May 18. EPD CID Detective Gerard Dube is the officer who interviewed Flowers at the Coffee County Jail for 50 minutes following the arrest.

Saxon said that first responders discovered the suspect inside a bedroom at the residence striking the victim, who was lying on a bed, repeatedly with a multi-colored metal walking cane. EPD officers apprehended Flowers after a struggle, Saxon said. It took a total of four officers—two at a time—to restrain him, Saxon said. “The first two got worn out so the others took over.”

Saxon said that when he arrived at the Grimsley Street home, emergency first responders were in the bedroom with Ray Lee Flowers who “had a large amount of trauma to his face.” There was blood “splattered” on all four walls and the ceiling in the bedroom, Saxon said.

“I want everybody to know that I beat him to a pulp,” Dube testified that Jzurih Flowers said during the 50-minute interview.

Saxon told the court that he saw a bloody $1 bill on Ray Lee Flowers body at the crime scene and Dube said Jzurih Flowers told him he “snapped” when his great-grandfather denied him $1 for a watermelon Snapple “and some weed.”

Dube also said Jzurih Flowers threw the money back at the victim after beating him. “He said he told his (great) grandfather that he didn’t need to die over this $1.”

Throughout Jzuriah Flowers’ first appearance May 22, 2017 Jzurih Flowers appeared agitated with his arms and legs moving continually and randomly, despite wrist and waist restraints. He hung his head silently when asked his address. His only voice answers were random high pitched keening sounds. He sat at the defense table surrounded by four sheriff’s department deputies.

Twelfth Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Josh Wilson told the court that none of the agitation Flowers exhibited in court at his first appearance had been apparent during his initial arrest and court hearing May 18, 2017. “In his initial statements, he was coherent,” Wilson said.

Citing Alabama law, Wilson defined the charge of capital murder as “murder in the commission of a robbery or attempt thereof.

“We believe the facts to be that the assault on Ray Lee Flowers was fueled by the defendant’s intent to rob his great grandfather of some sum of money,” Wilson said. “The defendant located the victim’s wallet and removed at least one dollar that we are sure of.

“The fact of it being only $1 may sound trivial but regardless of the amount taken or attempted to be taken a man’s life ended over it,” Wilson said. “This was a brutal murder of an elderly man unable to defend himself or his property and in my opinion little regard should be given to the amount taken, only that it was taken.

“Was this worth taking the beating I just gave you for?” Flowers is reported to have asked his great grandfather about the money, Wilson said.