DOTHAN, Ala. — A Houston County jury has convicted Brent Guilford of capital murder after he shot and killed a man he discovered with his wife in November 2022. The conviction, delivered on Wednesday, stems from a violent encounter that occurred when Guilford found his wife with Lashawn Poke in a house. Tensions quickly escalated between the two men, resulting in Guilford fatally shooting Poke.
Poke, who was serving a sentence for promoting prison contraband, was granted a short leave from Community Corrections to work outside of jail for the holidays. Records indicate that Guilford’s wife had recently filed a protection from abuse order against her husband, which only added to the emotional volatility leading up to the tragic event.
In the courtroom, prosecutors argued that the murder was an intentional act driven by anger and betrayal, while defense attorneys may have sought to present a different perspective on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Ultimately, the jury found Guilford guilty of capital murder.
Guilford, who will be sentenced by Judge Henry “Butch” Binford in early April, faces a potentially severe penalty for the crime. As the case heads toward its sentencing phase, many are left to ponder the broader implications of domestic disputes escalating into violence.
