New Orleans, LA – On Monday, September 16, 2024, the DA’s office began the re-trial of the 2013 murder of former Bourbon Street DJ, Ahmad Sheppard. A unanimous Orleans Parish Jury delivered guilty verdicts against defendant Travis Cochran of Second Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Robbery, and two counts of Second Degree Kidnapping.

The family of the victim waited nearly a decade for justice, due to an impermissible error made in the first trial. The trial judge declared a mistrial in 2019 when attorneys for the State under the previous administration improperly introduced information about the defendant’s criminal history which had been previously deemed inadmissible by the Court. This error played out in the presence of the jury as the defendant was on the witness stand. The trial court found the action to be so prejudicial that the constitutional rights of the defense were violated and ordered that the first jury be dismissed.

This DA’s office was committed to retrying the case regardless of the hurdles in our path. Cochran was initially apprehended by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) after a single eyewitness reported the execution-style killing of Sheppard. However, in the aftermath of the mistrial, the key eyewitness refused to testify again, presenting a significant challenge for the prosecution. Our homicide and trials prosecutors worked diligently to revive the prosecution of Cochran, working in close collaboration with law enforcement partners including some who were a part of the original investigation. The likelihood of conviction following a mistrial and a decade passed is rare due to the difficulty of maintaining witnesses and critical evidence.

In light of the difficulties created by the prior mistrial, District Attorney Williams emphasized the importance of strict adherence to constitutional mandates during prosecutions, even when cases are difficult to make. “This is a stark reminder of the critical importance of adhering to the rule of law, the highest standards of fairness and integrity in every aspect of prosecution. When we abide by these principles and respect the rules of law for every case, we ensure that convictions stand the test of time and that justice is not delayed or denied.”

Despite these setbacks and seemingly insurmountable odds, the dedicated trial team—comprised of Trial Assistant Dana DeMolle Casbon, Victim Advocate Melissa Lewis, and Investigator Elizabeth Garcia—worked tirelessly to bring together the necessary research and support for Assistant District Attorneys Bates and Tassin to mount a prosecution against a proven violent and dangerous offender. With the help of pivotal DNA evidence extracted from a glove, tying Cochran to the death and murder scene, the trial team was able to present a clear and compelling case of what exactly occurred on June 14, 2013, when Cochran executed Sheppard in a duplex located on Prytania Street.

The long-awaited accountability for Cochran’s violent actions and the tragic loss of 33-year-old Sheppard was achieved when the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Homicide Unit, led by Assistant District Attorney Corbin Bates and Deputy Chief of Trials Corey Tassin, secured convictions on all charges after a rigorous four-day trial.

Homicide Unit Assistant DA Corbin Bates, who served as lead counsel on this case, shared some of the obstacles that made the previously mistried case even more difficult to bring to completion, while also showing appreciation for those who made it possible.

“There were lots of difficulties trying this case, and lots of delays including hurricane Francine that pushed the trial date out another few weeks. So it’s amazing to finally get here. There are lots of people who deserve credit for this verdict. Many of them are standing here today, but there are also NOPD detectives who turned over a strong investigation, including those responsible for collecting the DNA a decade ago. Finally, I want to thank Mr. Sheppard for having faith in this team to fight for his family and for his strength to be here every step along the way.”