D.A. seeking death penalty for Lafourche deputy’s murder

The Houma man accused of running over and killing Lafourche Parish sheriff deputy Martha Woods Shareef in August with a vehicle he was driving, pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge Monday in Thibodaux.

Billy J. Daigle, 41, also pleaded not guilty to the attempted first-degree murder of Louisiana State Police Trooper Corey Brunet, simple burglary of Nocko’s Discount Store in Chackbay and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Shareef, a 15-year sheriff’s office veteran, had responded to an early-morning burglary call at Nocko’s when she was allegedly struck by a stolen pickup truck driven by Daigle. She later died at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.

Daigle fled. A chase ensued involving law enforcement from Lafourche, Terrebonne, Jefferson, St. James and Assumption parishes and state police. He was apprehended after the green 1997 Ford he was driving ran over a spike strip deployed by officers.

At Daigle’s arraignment Monday in state District Court Judge Bruce Simpson’s courtroom, the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office said it would seek the death penalty against Daigle.

Since Daigle’s attorney, Chris Boudreaux, is not authorized to handle capital cases, Simpson is allowing the new attorney 120 days to prepare for the trial.

Daigle’s new defense attorney had not been named as of press time.

Daigle will return to court Jan. 29 for a pretrial hearing in state District Court Judge Jerome Barbera’s courtroom.