Convicted of murdering a dad picking up a child in Phenix City, now he’s sentenced
A man found guilty of killing a man in Phenix City in June 2022 was sentenced Monday afternoon in a Russell County courtroom.
Praather Hiley was found guilty murder in April in the death of Derante Person, 23, at Frederick Douglass Apartments in Phenix City.
Phenix City police officers found Person wounded after being called to 1500 11th Ave. at 3:58 p.m. June 2, 2022. Person died from multiple gunshot wounds at a Columbus hospital.
Russell County District Judge Jamie Graham sentenced Hiley to 40 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections on the murder charge.
During his sentencing decision, Graham said, “I thought the second shot was too much.”
Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey told the Ledger-Enquirer at the time of the guilty verdict that the charges against Hiley arose after Hiley shot Person twice in the back as Person arrived at the mother’s apartment to pick up his child.
Hiley also faced attempted murder charges for two other people, but the jury returned a verdict on the lesser included offense of menacing in regards to both victims, according to Chancey.
Hiley was sentenced to 12 months for each of the menacing charges he faced to be served concurrently with the murder sentence.
Hiley and the baby’s mother had been living together at the time, according to Chancey.
Upon fleeing the scene, Hiley then shot at the other two people, Chancey said.
Hiley was living with his girlfriend in Phenix City at the time but was on probation out of Columbus, according to Chancey.
Defendant speaks before sentencing
Hiley addressed the courtroom before his sentencing and said he is remorseful for the situation.
Hiley said he respects the jury’s decision, but he also said he was defending himself and doing what he felt was right at the time.
Hiley’s lawyer, Eric Funderburk, told the judge Hiley had no prior convictions as an adult.
Funderburk made an oral motion for a new trial during the sentencing hearing, which Graham denied.
DA responds to verdict
Chancey said he is satisfied with the 40-year sentence for murder given to Hiley. He said his office had offered Hiley a plea deal of 30 years.
Chancey said he thinks the family will be “very happy” at the sentencing given to Hiley.
The defense claimed self-defense in the shooting. Chancey said the autopsy showed Person was shot twice in the back. Hiley told police he shot Person in the front, according to Chancey.
“I think when the jury heard that he (Person) had been shot in the back, they were like, ‘That’s not self-defense,’” Chancey said.
When talking about the judge’s statement on the second bullet, Chancey said he thinks the second bullet had everything to do with the judge’s decision.
“I think that bullet was designed to kill him (Person),” Chancey said.
Chancey said he has had a lot of murder cases lately with defendants claiming self-defense.
“I’m telling people to know the rules,” Chancey said. “You can’t just shoot somebody and kill them and claim self-defense.”
Chancey said self-defense is what a jury thinks it is, based upon the law.
“You have to have an objectively reasonable belief that your life is in immediate danger,” Chancey said. “And ultimately, that’ll be reviewed by a judge and a jury.”