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PRATTVILLE - An Autauga County jury deliberated about an hour and a half Wednesday afternoon before convicting a Montgomery man of manslaughter and assault in connection with a 2020 deadly shooting in Prattville.

Sir James Edward Raby, 25, was originally indicted on murder and assault charges in the case, court records show. The verdicts came down after a day-and-a-half long trial. Circuit Judge Bill Lewis revoked Rabys bond and put him in the Autauga Metro Jail until sentencing.

Raby was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Jerode Baskin and assault in the shooting or Jerreus Rudolph. The two are brothers, and Rudolph was shot in the ankle.

The defense originally argued self defense under Alabama's Stand Your Ground law, and a hearing was held before the trial. Lewis ruled the Stand Your Ground law did not apply to Rabys actions. If it had applied, the charges against him would have been dropped.

At trial, testimony came out that Raby and another man went to a Halloween night party held at Brantwood Apartments. Raby came to the party with an AR-15 style pistol tucked into the front of his pants, according to testimony.

It was a big ol gun, 24 inches long, stuck down the front of his pants, Chief Assistant District Attorney Josh Cochran told the jury in his opening statement.

Rudolph and another man were also at the party, and Cochran told the jury that a friend of Rabys bumped into Rudolphs friend in the apartment and words were exchanged. Rudolph and the man left the party and went to Baskins apartment, which was in the same apartment complex, to get his older brother.

The group returned to the party and met with Raby and the other man on the balcony to clear things up, Cochran said.

They had settled the matter, but Raby had that big ol gun drawn from the front of his pants and he started shooting, Cochran said.

Tom Azar, Rabys attorney, told the jury in his opening statemen that his client acted in self-defense.

James told police that someone stuck a gun in his belly and he heard several clicks, so he pulled his gun and fired, Azar said. They left and came back to the party with the victim. But for that we wouldnt be here.

Officers found a Glock 9 mm pistol under Baskins body when they rolled him over, Cpl. Mark Lively, one of the first officers to get to the apartment testified. It appeared the pistol had not been fired, because empty shell casings werenot found on the balcony, testimony brought out.

Baskin was shot five times.

When contacted by Prattville Police Department investigators, Raby turned himself in, turned over the AR-15 pistol used in the shooting and made a statement to detectives, testimony brought out.

If James had intentionally killed someone and shot someone, he wouldnt have shown up at the Prattville Police Department so quickly when asked, and he wouldnt have brought his gun, Azar said.

District Attorney CJ Robinson accepts the jurys verdict.

They weighed the evidence, and made their decisions, he said. We are satisfied with the verdict of manslaughter, a lesser charge, and assault. There is some justice for the families of Jerode Baskin and Jereus Rudolph.

Raby has four prior felony breaking and entering vehicle convictions from Lee County, court records show.

With his prior felonies, we will be asking the judge for the maximum sentence, Robinson said.

Raby could be sentenced to life in prison due to his prior felony convictions. The state offered him a 15-year sentence if he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, records show, but Raby wanted to take the case to trial.

We stand behind our assertation of self defense and expect to appeal, Azar said Thursday.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

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Montgomery man guilty of manslaughter in Prattville slaying - Montgomery Advertiser