Judge Chaney sentences Talisha Butler for the murder of Christopher Johnson

In a Warren County courtroom Friday morning, Judge James Chaney sentenced Talisha Butler to 20 years, with 5 to serve. Judge Chaney heard statements from the family of Butler and Christopher Johnson prior to sentencing. Butler was convicted of the murder of Johnson by a Warren County Jury on June 23, 2022.

The original trial

The trial of Talisha Butler came to an end with the jury finding Butler guilty of heat of passion manslaughter. Butler and Johnson were in a long-term and tumultuous relationship that Butler had ended a few months prior.

In July 2020, Christopher Johnson was shot and killed behind Boston Fish Supreme on Clay Street in front of a number of witnesses after an altercation with Butler.

In an interview, then Vicksburg Police Chief Milton Moore stated that Butler called 911 to report that she had shot Johnson shortly after the incident occurred. After a conversation with Moore, Butler turned herself in to authorities. Butler was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Talisha Butler sits in court during her trial. (Photo by David Day)

Butler went to trial on Monday, June 20. After hearing the case and prior to going into deliberations, Judge Chaney read the jury many different ways they could decide the case. Among them was Jury Instruction No: S-6 “Heat of passion manslaughter.”

“Heat of passion” as defined by the court is:

Heat of passion as used in other instructions of this Court is a state of violent and uncontrollable rage engendered by a blow or certain other provocation given, which will reduce a homicide from the grade of murder to that of manslaughter. Passion or anger suddenly aroused at the time by some immediate and reasonable provocation, by words or acts of one at the time. The term includes an emotional state of mind characterized by anger, rage, hatred, furious resentment or terror.

The jury found Butler guilty of “heat of passion manslaughter” after a 2-hour deliberation. When the verdict was read, Butler looked shocked and seemed to stop breathing for a few seconds. Butler’s family, who was in the courtroom, could be heard sobbing. That sobbing increased to the point one family member became physically ill. Johnson’s family remained largely silent, but a verbal back and forth was had for a couple of seconds before the deputies and officers in the rooms silenced everyone.

As Butler was escorted from the trial she looked back at her family and said, “It’s okay. It’s okay. It is better I walk out of here than they carry me out in a box.”

Talisha Butler turned to her family and said, “It’s okay. It’s okay. It is better I walk out of here than they carry me out in a box.” Photo by David Day

Sentencing begins with Talisha Butler pleading with the court

At Friday’s sentencing hearing, Attorney Jerry Campbell had Talisha Butler speak first.

Butler started,  “First and foremost I want to apologize to the Johnson family.” Butler went on to accept responsibility for the murder and accepted the verdict of the 12 jurors. Butler then pled with the court to show mercy and consider her 3-year-old daughter, a child she had with Johnson. Butler’s last words on the stand were directed to the Johnson family, “I hope you can forgive me.”

An emotional Talisha Butler pleads with the court at her sentencing hearing as Judge Chaney presides. Photo by David Day

The Family Speaks

Two Butler family members, including Talisha’s sister, took the stand and pled with the court to consider the 3-year-old daughter who keeps asking for her mother.

Then Christopher Johnson’s mom took the stand and admonished Butler’s attorney for statements made during the trial. “My son is not here to speak for himself,” said an upset Donyell Johnson. Then, in a display of grace, Christopher Johnson’s mother asked the court for leniency in sentencing Butler so the 3-year-old daughter, her granddaughter, is not away from her mother. Talisha Butler immediately dropped her head and sobbed. Butler thanked Johnson’s mother several times as she left the podium.

The prosecution, led by Branan Southerland, asked for a maximum sentence of 20 years, with 5 years to serve.

Judge Chaney sets the sentence

After listening to the emotional testimony, Judge Chaney summed up the case by saying, “I understand this is a tragic case.” He went on to say that the child need not be deprived of its mother for 20 years. Chaney then looked at Butler directly and sentenced Butler to 20 years with 5 to serve. Butler sat silently and Judge Chaney gaveled the case to its conclusion.

Judge Chaney sentences Talish Butler. Photo by David Day

After the judge left the chamber, Talisha Butler and Donyell Johnson hugged each other with Butler thanking Johnson for her act of grace.

After the sentencing

After the sentencing, on the first floor of the courthouse, someone brought 3-year-old Sache into the courthouse. Grandmothers Donyell Johnson and Audrey Walker held 3-year-old Sache Johnson.

Donyell Johnson, 3-year-old Sache, and Audrey Walker. Photo by David Day