By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

EDGARD — Guilty. With just one word, a drama spanning over six years concluded as a jury handed down guilty verdicts to Errol Victor Sr. and Tonya Victor, both charged in the 2008 death of 8-year-old M.L. Lloyd III, Tonya’s son and Errol’s stepson.

On Friday Errol was convicted of second-degree murder, while his wife Tonya was convicted of manslaughter in the brutal homicide.

M.L. was pronounced dead at River Parishes Hospital on April 1, 2008, after authorities said he was severely whipped and beaten for taking ice cream without permission.

The Victors, who were arrested shortly after M.L. was brought to the hospital, vehemently denied abuse and homicide accusations for years, maintaining their innocence and saying the child died as the result of a severe asthma attack.

The guilty verdicts pleased many local elected officials and residents, including St. John the Baptist Parish District Attorney Tom Daley.

“I’m satisfied with the jury’s decision in this case,” Daley said. “I’m also very appreciative of the time and energy they took out of their normal lives to listen to something so unpleasant.”

Julie Cullen, a representative from the state attorney general’s office, prosecuted the case. Daley recused his office from the case in 2009 because an assistant district attorney had represented Errol in a civil matter. Daley’s office continued to work with Cullen during the trial, assisting in research and background.

“Very satisfied,” Cullen said with a smile Friday in the courthouse building when asked how she felt about the verdicts.

She said she “certainly understood” the jury convicting Tonya of manslaughter, rather than the heavier charge of second-degree murder.

Daley said “testimony set out during trial demonstrated that Mr. Victor played a more active role in the corporal punishment administered to M.L” than Tonya did, which led to the lesser conviction.

“Presumably, they didn’t find her as culpable as him,” Daley said. “The facts suggested Errol Victor inflicted more corporal punishment and was more responsible.”

The trial was full of conflicting testimonies by stepbrothers, gruesome details of abuse and graphic postmortem photos of M.L.

The Victors had 13 children — five from Tonya Victor and six from Errol Victor. Together, the couple had two children. Several of Tonya’s sons and Errol’s sons took the stand in the trial, with opposite stories of events. Each child’s story heavily favored their biological parent.

Daley said Tonya’s children, Errol’s stepchildren, told a “story that was emotionally riveting” of the hours leading up to M.L.’s death.

“You can’t ignore the totality of injuries to the child and the emotion and credibility of Tonya’s sons’ statements,” Daley said.

Daley added the state never set out to prove that either of the Victors intended to kill M.L., but that they were both ultimately responsible for the young boy’s death.

Cullen added she was happy for M.L’s father and stepbrothers.

“No one gets closure in a case like this,” Cullen said. “But I’m sure they’re relieved this part is over.”

Daley said “justice has been served” in the case “thanks to the hard work and dedication of the lawyers and staff in my office, along with the Attorney General’s Office and the St. John Sheriff’s Office, especially Assistant Attorney General Julie Cullen and along with the hard work and even handedness of Judge Mary Becnel and the local jury.

“For six years the Victors have attempted to make a mockery of the criminal justice system by delaying their trial, by hiring and firing 12 different lawyers and by jumping bail,” Daley said.

According to Daley, Cullen “endured many challenges” during the trial, including the Victors representing themselves. Their lack of legal knowledge or procedural privy led to what amounted to chaos in the courtroom at times.

“It was sometimes difficult for everyone in the courtroom, including Cullen and Judge Becnel,” Daley said of the Victors’ behavior, which included yelling and random objections.

The couple had their “own perception of fairness and justice,” which often didn’t adhere to legal guidelines, Daley said.

The guilty verdicts came as a relief for many family members who have waited for answers and justice for M.L.

“I feel wonderful. Justice has finally been served and little M.L. is smiling down from heaven today,” said M.L.’s second cousin Brenda, who asked that her last name not be used.

“M.L.’s young brothers who were made to watch him die can finally put this put this behind them now.”

To people who supported the Victors, Brenda had harsher words.

“You saw the pictures, heard the truth and some of you even know the truth,” Brenda said. “I’d like to ask them the question, ‘What God do they serve?’”

Errol continued to proclaim his faith, just as he did in many parts of the trial, as he left the courthouse Friday shackled and hand-in-hand with Tonya.

“Praise the Lord,” Errol said with a smile. “God bless.”

He added the couple would have eventual victory and the truth would come out.

One person who was not satisfied with the verdicts was Belinda Parker-Brown.

Brown, president and CEO of Louisiana United International, a Slidell-based civil rights group, said “the reasonable doubt was overwhelming” in the case.

She said the fact Cullen interrupted Errol six times during his defense was just one of the reasons the duo didn’t get a fair trial.

M.L.’s father, M.L. Lloyd Jr., being called to the stand by the prosecution was something else Brown didn’t think was fair.

“It was done to arouse emotions of the jury,” Brown said. “What did he have to do with it?”

Daley said Becnel has set an Aug. 16 deadline for any post-trial motions, which would include the Victors’ possible motion for a new trial. Becnel would decide on whether any motions would be granted.

Errol’s second-degree murder conviction carries a non-discretionary life without parole sentence.

Daley said after formal sentencing Errol would be remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections, where he would more than likely be sentenced to Angola.

Tonya, on the other hand, will be sentenced to anywhere from 10 to 40 years.

Daley said while everyone is credited for time served, Tonya would not be allowed to use some of the time she’s spent in jail to ease her sentence because some of that time was sentenced for other charges, included jumping bail.