No Funds For Expert Witness In Murder Trial

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — An administrator for the Louisiana Public Defender Board testified there is no money available to fund expert witnesses needed to defend a Lafayette man accused of killing his girlfriend's child. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The Advocate reports the capital case coordinator for the state board, Jean Faria, said there isn't nearly enough money to pay experts for all of Louisiana's poor defendants.

She said Landon Broussard's attorneys applied for funds to cover the cost of a mitigator, who has since quit the case after waiting to be paid.

She said the team would have to file more applications to get back in the funding line if it hopes to receive money that might become available in June.

A trial date in Broussard's case has not been set.