By Billy Davis

Derrick Burdette was sentenced to 20 years in state prison Thursday for the 2011 shooting death of Herman Smith in Batesville.  

Burdette, 22, received the maximum penalty under Mississippi law when he stood before Circuit Judge Smith Murphey.

Assistant District Attorney Jay Hale announced the sentencing to The Panolian after the proceeding concluded in Charleston.

A jury of nine women and three men convicted Burdette of manslaughter January 19 after deliberating for an hour and twenty minutes.

Smith was shot January 26, 2011 while he sat in his car at Still Trailer Park, located in west Batesville.

Despite numerous gunshot wounds from a pistol, Smith survived the shooting long enough to name his gunman as a police officer stood over him.

“Do you know who shot you, Mr. Smith?” asked BPD Lt. Ruby Myers.

“Scooter,” Smith answered. “They….called him…Scooter. His name…is….Derrick Burdette.”

Hale said Smith’s widow testified for the prosecution during the hearing and Burdette took the stand in his own defense.

Burdette was represented by public defender William Maxey.