Jury finds Luther Watkins Jr. guilty in 2019 murder of Tuscaloosa police officer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - After a five-day trial, a jury found Luther Watkins Jr. guilty in the 2019 murder of a Tuscaloosa police officer.

Interim Tuscaloosa Police Chief Sebo Sanders remembered TPD officer Dornell Cousette after Watkins was found guilty of capital murder.

“Dornell wasn’t just a colleague, he was a good friend,” Sanders said. “He was a brother, a fiancé and the father of two daughters. He was an officer who chose to work cases involving vulnerable children - both victims and offenders. That work is some of the toughest work an officer can do, but he did it because he believed each one deserved someone in their corner.”

Closing arguments were delivered Friday morning, Feb. 13, in the capital murder trial of Watkins, who is accused of shooting and killing Cousette in 2019.

The defense rested their case before both prosecution and defense presented emotionally charged closing arguments to the jury.

The state reiterated that Watkins knew who Cousette was and knew there were warrants out for his arrest, according to Watkins’ own testimony. Prosecutors said Watkins chose to run from Cousette into a house where he knew the layout and ultimately shot a police officer trying to arrest a wanted suspect.

District Attorney Hays Webb said, “The truth remains that he, Luther Watkins, shot and killed Officer Cousette. He is the cold blooded killer, not Officer Cousette.”

The defense reminded the jury that prosecutors said during the trial that no one knows what happened once Watkins and Cousette were inside the home. The defense said no testimony was given that Watkins had a gun drawn before he went into the house, or even before Officer Cousette shot Watkins the first time in the back.

The jury began deliberation after a brief lunch break and deliberated for over three hours.

Tuscaloosa Police Executive Director of Public Safety Brent Blankley said the verdict gives resolution to a case that has weighed on the TPD for years.

“While no legal outcome can undo what happened, today affirms the value we place on accountability and the rule of law,” Blankley said. “Investigator Cousette served this department and this city with courage. His service will not be forgotten.”

Sentencing is set for Tuesday morning, Feb. 17.

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