L’Observateur / June 23, 1999

NAPOLEONVILLE – The trial of Kendall Breaux for the murder of two Iberville Savings & Trust Bank employees will proceed as planned, Breaux now ruled competant to stand trial.

Breaux, 20, of Garyville, was one of three men who allegedly robbed the Napoleonville branch of the bank on June 4, 1998. During the robbery, twoemployees – Jackie Blanchard, 31, of Plattenville, and Lisa Dupuis, 22, of Pierre Part – were shot and killed.

Breaux attempted to plead insanity, but a sanity commission advised the judge of their findings to the contrary.

Breaux”s trial is scheduled Oct. 12 before Judge Ralph Tureau. James Dunn,32, and Anthony Scott, 20, both formerly of Garyville, have already been tried, convicted and sentenced to death.

Dunn was convicted on March 18 and formally sentenced to death June 17 by Judge Alvin Turner Jr. He earlier served time for the manslaughter ofLt. Sherman Walker, but he was released on parole in August 1995. Scotthas not yet received his formal sentencing.

Scott”s trial was held April 19-22 with the jury, eight women and four men with one black female juror, returning from deliberation after less than an hour.

Scott had a prior conviction for attempted murder when he was but 14 years of age, a fact told the jury during the penalty phase of his trial.

In that instance, Scott fired six times at another juvenile on Dec. 26,1993, striking him three times.

In the bank robbery incident, prosecutors stated, the three entered the bank where Scott first shot Blanchard in the head with a .41-caliberMagnum firing .38-caliber slugs. Then, prosecution added, Dunn fired atDupuis three times and likewise shot Blanchard.

Deputies responding to a silent alarm gave chase and roadblocks were set up in their path near Donald-sonville One mile down the road, the car was struck by a train. Breaux was pinnedin the vehicle and quickly taken into custody. The other two, Dunn andScott, tried to run into a nearby sugarcane field but were quickly caught.

The robbery loot and the bank’s security camera containing the robbery caught on videotape were recovered. Prosecutors said the videotape alsoshowed Dunn in the act of shooting the two tellers, after which the trio splashed gasoline in an attempt to burn the bank and further hide evidence, but the gasoline failed to ignite.

Return To News Stories