By By Adam Prestridge
Two Atmore men charged with murder will have their cases heard before the 21st Judicial Circuit Court in Brewton next week.
According to court records, Milton Simpson Jr. will stand trial for murder after being charged with the stabbing death of 36-year-old Teoria M. McNeal on Aug. 24, 2008.
According to a release issued by the Atmore Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at 50 Ashley St. at around 8:29 p.m. and discovered McNeal lying in the floor with a stab wound to the chest. She later died at Atmore Community Hospital.
Officers later learned during their investigation that a verbal altercation ensued between McNeal and her boyfriend, Simpson, 42. Simpson was not present at the scene when officers arrived. While on the scene, officers were told Simpson was at the police department. Simpson was later arrested and charged with murder.
Jury selection in Simpson’s case will begin at 8:30 a.m. on June 15.
Alphonse Davis also faces murder charges after shooting Jeremie Jerome Hand at the Flamingo Terrace nightclub in Atmore on Nov. 4, 2006 and will stand trial this month.
According to reports from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, Hand, a 27-year-old Atmore resident, was pronounced dead at Atmore Community Hospital following injuries sustained from a gunshot wound.
According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation revealed that 29-year-old Cedric Fernando Leslie, also of Atmore, and Hand had an argument in the bathroom and Hand shot Leslie in the jaw. The confrontation then led outside into the parking lot where it is believed Davis fatally shot Hand.
Leslie was also transported to Atmore Community Hospital in a privately owned vehicle by relatives. He was later transported to an out-of-county hospital and underwent surgery.
Jury selection in Davis’ trial will begin at 8:30 a.m. on June 16.