MARKS — Jurors will have to decide whether they believe Lawrence Reed acted with premeditation when he killed Clarksdale mayoral candidate Marco McMillian in 2013.
The Clarksdale Press Register reports closing arguments are set Thursday in the case.
Reed testified Wednesday that he blacked out before he strangled McMillian out of fear and anger over McMillian’s sexual advances. Reed says he was trying to wake McMillian when Reed dragged him into a water-filled ditch. Reed also claimed that he didn’t initially plan to try to burn McMillian’s body.
Prosecutors dispute that version of events. They played a recording of Reed telling an investigator that he dragged McMillian to the ditch to drown him after he found McMillian was still moving after Reed strangled him with his wallet chain.
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