A Kenton County jury deliberated for just 30 minutes Friday, before convicting Lamont Brandon Johnson, 41, of Murder for the November, 2016 strangulation death of Trina Coleman on Sharon Drive in Taylor Mill.
Johnson
The jury then deliberated approximately another 10 minutes before recommending that Johnson serve a sentence of Life in prison.
The four day jury trial was prosecuted by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Joseph Hill. A dozen witnesses testified including the lead investigator, Taylor Mill Police Detective Cyrus Harris.
After the trial, Sanders said “This is justice but it’s not fair. The only fair outcome would have been to bring Trina back to her family.”
Coleman’s mother, Toni Buttery, and sister, Heather Buttery, both testified for the Commonwealth.
Johnson testified in his own defense and claimed he couldn’t have committed the murder because he was “a peaceful person.” Prosecutors rebutted Johnson’s claims by calling the woman Johnson dated before Coleman who said she ended their relationship after Johnson beat her and choked her unconscious, all while she was pregnant with his child.
Hill said “Johnson is obviously a very dangerous man looked at women as his property, to beat and abuse as he saw fit.”
Prosecutors also introduced evidence of Johnson’s three prior felony convictions in Kenton County for Fleeing Police 1st Degree, Trafficking in Cocaine, and Trafficking in Heroin. “The jury did the right thing,” said Hill, “Kentucky is a safer place with Lamont Johnson behind bars where he can’t abuse or kill any more women.”
Taylor Mill Police Chief Steve Knauf noted this was Taylor Mill’s only murder in over 30 years. Final sentencing is scheduled for March 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 7A before Kenton Circuit Judge Gregory Bartlett, who presided over the trial.
Kenton Commonwealth Attorney
