TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 13, 2023

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has denied an appeal by Billy Ray Turner, who was convicted in the murder of former Memphis basketball star Lorenzen Wright, Local Memphis reports. The opinion affirms the trial court’s judgement in the case, which sentenced Turner to life plus 41-years. In his appeal, Turner claimed the trial court prevented him from impeaching a witness, allowed prosecutors to ask leading questions, and allowed a “speaking objection” by the state. He also claimed that Shelby County was not the proper venue for the trial and that there was insufficient evidence for a conviction.