Manslaughter charge in fatal beating of wallet thief in New Orleans

Published 3:48 pm Saturday, August 11, 2018

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A man has been beaten to death in New Orleans after stealing another man’s wallet, and the wallet’s owner now faces a manslaughter charge.

The New Orleans Advocate reports that 31-year Simon Morris was arrested in the death of a man identified only as Edwin.

Police said Edwin approached Morris and asked him for a dollar outside a gas station Friday morning, but then snatched the wallet from Morris’s back pocket. Morris chased and caught Edwin.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

Police said Edwin was severely beaten and kicked for at least five minutes despite efforts by others to intervene. Edwin died later at a hospital.

A manslaughter conviction can result in no prison time or up to 40 years.

Records indicate Morris remained jailed Saturday. No information was immediately available on his attorney.