A convicted murderer originally sentenced to death for a 2003 murder of a local minister and the attempted murder of his victim’s widow returned to Caddo District Court this week for resentencing.

Brandy Ailene Holmes, 37, now incarcerated at the state women’s prison at St. Gabriel, appeared briefly Wednesday, August 17, 2016, before Caddo Parish District Judge Katherine Dorroh. Holmes previously had been sentenced to death but conflicting expert witness testimony that led to re-sentencing of Holmes’ former boyfriend and co-defendent, Robert Coleman, led to Wednesday’s court action.

Holmes was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 2005 for the slaying of 70-year-old Blanchard minister Julian Brandon.  Rev. Brandon was murdered and his wife, Alice, was permanently disabled during an attack that took place in their residence. Alice Brandon also later died.

Robert Coleman, Holmes’ co-defendant, also was sentenced to life in prison in May after two death sentences were overturned. However, the original convictions and sentences were reversed in 2007 by the Louisiana Supreme Court based on a jury selection error.

The state was represented in court by Suzanne Williams, appellate section chief. Holmes was represented by Caroline Tillman.