Man convicted in slaying of businessman

An Evangeline Parish jury convicted a Ville Platte man in the May 2011 armed robbery and murder of a local businessman.

The jury found Dannie Lee Lafleur, 22, guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery Thursday afternoon in the May 6 killing of Tue Do, a local merchant at Tat Nails, according to a news release from the Evangeline Parish District Attorney’s Office.

Co-defendants Denzel Frank and Jeannie Fontenot, who was Lafleur’s girlfriend at the time, both testified at the trial, the news release said.

Frank and Fontenot are still awaiting trial.

Fontenot testified she was at the business earlier that day and noticed how much cash the business had on hand.

She mentioned that to Lafleur who then convinced Frank to go with him that evening to rob the business, the news release said.

Frank testified he served as the getaway driver while Lafleur went into the business wearing a bandana and armed with a gun.

Frank testified he heard shots while he waited for Lafleur, the news release said.

The two men returned to Lafleur’s residence where the money was counted by Fontenot and divided up.

Frank testified he later threw the murder weapon into a sewage pond, the news release said.

Lafleur will be sentenced July 19. He faces a mandatory life sentence, the release said.


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Comments (1)


1) Comment by tradewinns - 26/06/2012

He faces a mandatory life sentence, the release said. WHAT? where's the death penalty? when i read guilty of 1st degree murder i thought it was here in BR and our da had suddenly grown a set. then i saw it wasn't in EBRP, big surprise there. we only get charges of 2nd degree murder. but a 1st degree charge, the DP is sure to follow. your DA must be kin to ours.