Jury convicts for 2016 murder of Mason Howard
Robert Blake Ashmore was convicted last week for the first-degree murder of Mason Howard, 19, and sentenced to life in prison.
The verdict came Thursday morning in Second Circuit Judge Al Smith’s courtroom and was the culmination of a case that saw Howard killed in front of witnesses with a 12-gauge shotgun at Ashmore’s home on April 9, 2016.
Ashmore, who was 20 at the time of the shooting at his home on 922 Cherry St. in Clarksdale, claimed self-defense and attorney Boty McDonald from Ridgeland represented him. McDonald said Thursday he planned to appeal the verdict.
A mistrial occurred the first time the case went to court, but the result was different last week.
Mason’s grandfather, Bob Howard, said he was pleased with the verdict.
“It’s been three years now,” said an emotional Bob Howard.” We can finally get some closure on this.”
Prosecuting attorney Walter Bleck opened telling how Mason just passed his flying exam and went to a bonfire at Dawson Stanley’s house. He added Mason was getting ready to go turkey hunting the next morning.
Bleck said when Mason was near the fire, and it fell toward Ashmore’s wife at the time, Ashmore took offense and said, “‘I need to leave before I murder somebody.’”
Ashmore’s friend, Tommy Williams, took Ashmore home to 922 Cherry St.
Bleck said Howard, along with his friend Christian Upchurch, went to Ashmore’s house to talk to him about what happened at the bonfire.
“He was going to iron out why there was a problem,” Bleck said.
McDonald opened his defense by telling the jury they needed three numbers: One was 237, or how many pounds Howard weighed the night of the shooting; second 135, Ashmore’s weight; and the third was Ashmore’s address – 922.
“He was a weapon – 237 pounds,” McDonald said.
McDonald claimed, after Williams drove Ashmore home, Howard called Ashmore making threats and forced his way into 922 Cherry St.
At the time, McDonald said Ashmore was getting ready to work a 12-hour shift at KBH.
McDonald said Ashmore told Howard, “‘If you come on in I’m going to have to shoot you.’”
McDonald said Howard replied, “‘You’re going to have to shoot me.’”
State Evidence
Capt. Norman Starks from the Clarksdale Police Department and Mark LeVaughn, the chief medical examiner from the state, testified about their investigations.
“I was able to determine he (Howard) did not have any weapons on him at that particular time,” Starks said.
Starks said he didn’t find Ashmore’s number in Howard’s phone, and there was no physical evidence Howard called Ashmore making threats. He also said there was no sign of forced entry on Howard’s part.
“It was a lot of discrepancies,” Starks said.
When LeVaughn was questioned about the shooting, he said, “The manner is homicide. The cause is shot to the head.”
After hearing the evidence and testimony from witnesses at the scene, the all African-American jury of eight females and four males found Ashmore guilty after deliberating only about 90 minutes. The jury also brought back the life sentence to Judge Smith.
“We went over all of the evidence and then we decided which one that we were going to charge him with, but we did deliberate,” said juror Joe Sawyer, a Friar’s Point Councilman.
The Witnesses
There were seven individuals – five witnesses, Ashmore and Howard – at the scene.
Ashmore’s former brother-in-law Clay Fraize was the first witness questioned. Fraize’s sister, Cassie Ashmore, was Blake Ashmore’s wife, at the time. The two have since divorced.
Cassie later testified Ashmore accused her of having an affair with Howard “multiple times” during the marriage.
According to Fraize’s testimony, a pallet fell off the fire and almost hit Cassie, which made Ashmore mad. Fraize added Howard had nothing to do with the pallet falling.
When Fraize learned Howard went to Ashmore’s house, he went there, too.
“I knew what (Ashmore) was capable of,” Fraize said. “He shot at my sister before.”
McDonald’s immediate objection was sustained. Smith instructed the jury to disregard Fraize’s statement.
Fraize also testified he did not feel it was a good idea for Howard to go to Ashmore’s house.
During McDonald’s cross-examination, Fraize said he went back to the bonfire and did not call 911 after the shooting.
The next witness, Upchurch, rode in Howard’s vehicle to Ashmore’s house.
Upchurch said he saw Ashmore holding a shotgun and Howard did not make any calls or threats.
“He (Howard) was talking plainly,” Upchurch said and he later admitted he did not call 911 after witnessing the shooting.
In an effort to show Upchurch did not see Ashmore holding the gun the way he claimed, McDonald said, “You know he’s (Ashmore) left-handed?”
When Williams was on the stand, he said he dropped Ashmore off at home and left. Williams testified he later got a call from Stanley saying Howard was headed to Ashmore’s house and he better head back there.
Williams said he did not see Howard with any weapon or hear any threats.
“Mason just walked up to the door and opened the door to talk to Blake,” Williams said.
Williams said he saw Ashmore point the gun at Howard. He said he heard Ashmore say to Howard, “‘Don’t come near me or I’ll shoot.’”
Williams said he told Ashmore, “‘Don’t shoot. Don’t shoot.’”
Stanley said, he saw the pallet fall off the fire and land near Ashmore’s wife. He said Howard asked what happened and Ashmore walked off mad.
“He (Ashmore) said, ‘I’m going to leave before I murder somebody’ and that’s when I asked him to leave my property,” Stanley said.
McDonald asked Stanley about calling Williams.
“I never called Tommy,” replied Stanley.
McDonald ended his cross-examination at that point as Stanley’s statement contradicted Williams’ testimony on the stand.
Jonathan Emerson was the other witness at the house, but he was not close enough to determine how the shooting occurred.
The Defense
Ashmore also took the stand, but McDonald did not present witnesses on his behalf.
Ashmore said he attended Kirkpatrick Elementary, Oakhurst Intermediate Academy and earning his GED from Coahoma Community College. He said he worked for KBH 12 hours a day, four days a week.
Ashmore said his statement given to Capt. Starks after the shooting was accurate and he was the one who called 911.
Bleck made reference to the witnesses who had a different account of events than Ashmore.
“All these people are lying?” Bleck asked.
“Yes, sir,” Ashmore replied.
According to the Mississippi Department of Corrections and depending on various factors including offender’s criminal history, crime, crime commit date and sentence, some offenders may be eligible for parole after serving a portion of their sentence. Those sentenced to 30 years or more must serve at least 10 years before they are eligible for parole.
