Columbus man sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole for 2021 murder of Joseph Dukes

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) —  Almost three years after 35-year-old Joseph Dukes was shot to death on Moye Road in East Columbus, the man who did it was sentenced to prison today.

Deante Caruthers was sentenced by Superior Court Judge John Martin.

Caruthers was convicted of the 2021 murder on Monday. Thursday afternoon, Martin sentenced Caruthers to life in prison WITH the possibility of parole.

Caruthers, 32, will not be eligible for parole until 2054. He must serve at least 30 years of the life sentence.

Caruthers and Dukes knew each other. Just before Dukes died of four gunshots – two in the back – he told police that Caruthers was the one who shot him.

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The two men had a running dispute.

The jury deliberated for more than nine hours before returning the verdict. During sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Austin Hammock argued for a life without parole sentence on the malice murder charge.

Defense attorney William Kendrick argued for the lesser sentence.

Here’s what Dukes’ mother, Delilah Dukes, told the court prior to sentencing.

“I have forgiven the Deante Caruthers for the murder of my son,” Dukes said. “But I do want justice to be served.  So please take his life away from him.  With severe punishment, you are giving him your meal and his kids the relief, but not seeing his murderer on the streets.”

Joseph Dukes had eight children, the youngest one born shortly after his death.

Judge Martin also tacked five years to serve onto the life sentence for a gun charge conviction.

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