/Curtis Flowers case Prosecutors seek to bar death row inmate from attending mother’s funeral

Curtis Flowers case Prosecutors seek to bar death row inmate from attending mother’s funeral

Lola Flowers passed away July 14th after complications from surgery. Curtis Flowers, her son filed an emergency motion to the Montgomery County circuit court three days later asking for a judge’s order to the Mississippi Department of Corrections that he be transported to Lola Flowers’ viewing Friday afternoon and funeral Saturday morning at Winona. According to court records, Curtis Flowers offered transportation costs reimbursement. Flowers, now 48 years old, is currently on death row at Mississippi State Penitentiary Parchman where he has spent the majority of his life. Hood’s office requested that the court deny Flowers’ request. According to Flowers’ request, “This motion doesn’t involve Flowers being transported to the Court for any proceedings relating to his criminal case.” “Rather, this is an administrative matter for Mississippi Department of Corrections.” Grace Fisher, a spokeswoman from the corrections department, declined to comment but referred Mississippi Today’s attention to court filings. Fisher stated that she was unable to confirm Flowers’ request for administrative relief through the department. This is in line with the suggestion of the attorneys for the state. Hood’s office replied that District Attorney Doug Evans, and Montgomery County Sheriff Jerry “Bubba”, Nix, Jr., “strongly object to” any request for emergency leave from Flowers. Hood’s office stated that MDOC had discussed with Evans’ office and families of victims to determine “heightened safety concerns” for Flowers and the entire community. Flowers was convicted of the murders in 1996 of four employees at a Winona furniture store. Evans tried Flowers five times more for the murders after a series of successful appeals. Flowers’ sixth conviction remains on appeal. The national attention Flowers received after the American Public Media podcast “In the Dark”, which examined the case, was released earlier in the year. A team of journalists examines racial discrimination during jury selection, potential suspects, as well as other flaws in Flowers’ 22-year-old case. APM Reports reported Lola Flowers’ death on July 14. Madeleine Baran (lead reporter for “In the Dark”) wrote that Lola Flowers didn’t give up on the possibility of Curtis being exonerated and released from prison. Flowers’ lawyers described his relationship with his mother in the emergency motion as “exceptionally close” and added that they spoke on the phone almost every day. Lola Flowers’s funeral will take place Saturday at Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, Winona.