By Billy Davis

District Attorney John Champion said Wednesday in circuit court he will seek the death penalty against Antonio Cortez Glover, accused of masterminding the kidnapping and killing of Tommy “Burnside” Moore in 2011.

Authorities have alleged Glover and two others accused Moore of stealing marijuana from them and killed him over the suspected theft.

Moore’s body was found May 6, 2011, in a drainage ditch on Paul White Road, not far from where his torched Buick was found on nearby Tom Floyd Road.

An autopsy reported Moore was shot multiple times and died from his gunshot wounds. He was 32.
His identity was confirmed through a DNA test.  

Along with Glover, cousins Odell McBrayer and Larry McBrayer are also charged with capital murder, and four others are charged with felony arson for allegedly burning down a home at 217 Ford Street in Como to cover up the crime.

Glover lived at 217 Ford Street and Moore lived next door with his mother, Lillie Moore.
Mrs. Moore told police on April 29 last year her son was missing and Moore’s girlfriend, Brunkeisha Black, told police her boyfriend had left her apartment with Glover and never returned.
Authorities said at the time they recovered the alleged murder weapon.

In a 15-minute court hearing, Circuit Judge Smith Murphey set a trial date for Monday, August 13 in Sardis.

The jury will be sequestered because the case involves the death penalty, Murphey said from the bench.
Glover was represented Wednesday by attorney John Perry of Southaven, who requested more time to prepare for trial since the trial date was set for May 14, in two weeks.  

Champion did not object and Murphey, citing the significance of a death penalty case, set the trial for August, the next term of court in Sardis.

Murphey and the attorneys also set a June 1 date for the judge to hear pre-trial motions from Perry, several related to Champion’s decision to seek the death penalty.

“There are a number of motions,” Perry told the judge.

“I count 20, Mr. Perry,” Murphey replied.

Champion told Murphey some of the motions would be acceptable to the prosecution, and after the hearing the district attorney and Perry met privately, with Glover present, to discuss the court motions.

Reached after the hearing, Champion said he is pursuing the death penalty after studying the case and consulting with Moore’s family.

“We take a death penalty case seriously and the facts in this case warrant seeking it,” Champion said without elaborating about specific allegations.

Champion said the state is not pursuing the death penalty against Glover’s co-defendants.

Assistant District Attorney Jay Hale was present with Champion in court Wednesday.