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VILLE PLATTE - The son of a man killed in 1985 said he is prepared to march to protest the new trial granted to the man convicted of killing his father in what some are calling a hate crime.

"If they do grant him another trial, we will have a march … or whatever it takes," said Michael Scott, son of Caffery Scott Jr. "This is the third time we have to go through this."

Judge Gaynor Soileau of the 13th Judicial District granted a new trial to Jacob Guillory Jr. on June 20. The motion for a new trial or sentence was filed on Jan. 7 by Guillory's current attorney Clayton Burgess of Lafayette.

In granting the request, the judge said he found "sufficient evidence to grant the defendant a new trial."

Members of the Scott family and Black Men Seven, a civil rights group, said they are prepared to again call attention to the murder, which they have deemed a "hate crime."

Guillory, 37, who is white, was convicted on Aug. 13, 1985, of the second-degree murder of Scott, an African-American. Guillory was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

According to trail records, Scott was walking home on a rural road in Evangeline Parish on July 20, 1985, when Guillory and Melissa Charlie passed him in a vehicle. Guillory picked up a pistol from the seat of the car, opened the window and shot Scott in the stomach, killing him. Neither Charlie or Guillory knew Scott but targeted the man because he was black, according to prosecution testimony.

From the first trial in 1987 to now, Michael Scott said his family has been unable to put this matter to rest.

"The first time it seems like it just took a while for him (Guillory) to go to trial," the son said. "Then finally he was convicted and they sent him to prison and they sent him back here to work as a trusty for the (Evangeline Parish) Sheriff's Office. We went and talked to the governor about that one and he was sent back to prison. Now he may get another trial."

Records reveal that Guillory was sent to the Sheriff's Office in 1996 to work as a mechanic but was sent back to prison after a community uproar over the matter.

Local activists said they plan to keep a close watch on the matter.

"We are looking forward to contacting the attorney general's office through (lawyers) Ed Jones and Marion Overton White in the next few days," said George Fisher, president of Black Men Seven, a civil right's group based in Eunice. "We will have a protest march on July 20 and a prayer vigil."

Fisher said the protest march is being held to "wake up some heads over here there in the Evangeline Parish justice system that justice shouldn't only be for one race, but for all people."

Evangeline Parish District Attorney Brent Coreil said Guillory's attorney has produced a new witness in the case who had not been heard from previously.

"Generally, motions are routine," said Coreil of the request for a new trial filed in the case. "It has been my experience for the last three years that everyone in prison for life or for an extended period" files appeals or motions for a new trial.

In fact, there have been 36 different motions filed in the Guillory case since the trial occurred, Coreil said.

After receiving word on the Guillory case, the district attorney said he met with his assistants to discuss the case. Coreil said one of his current assistants once represented Guillory in 1992 and to "avoid any appearance of impropriety," he is turning the case over to the Louisiana attorney general's office.

In addition, Coreil said he is asking that their be a change of venue in the case.

"It will be difficult no matter who handles it," Coreil said.