MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - He's convicted of one murder, suspected in the death of a Memphis cop and on trial right now for a third killing. Even Dexter Cox's defense lawyer isn't denying that his client is guilty.
"My blood rushes through my body when I kill someone." That's what police say Cox told them when he was arrested for murder. There are no eye witnesses for the murder of Gwendolyn Cherry, but the State says they have enough evidence to convict Cox of murder for the second time.
Most people are familiar with the twisted TV serial killer, Dexter, who only murders bad people. But not many people are familiar with Dexter Cox. By the time he was 19 years old the state says he was already responsible for three separate murders, all innocent people. The victims are an elderly man, a 45-year-old woman and an off duty Memphis Police officer, very different than TV's Dexter.
In 2011, he was found guilty of first degree murder for shooting Herbert Wooten while sitting on his front porch. The state hopes the murder of Gwendolyn Cherry brings another guilty verdict.
Assistant District Attorney Ray Lepone told jurors during opening statements, "You will hear the tape of Dexter Cox confessing to the murder of Gwendolyn Cherry... he even tells the police how she ran in front of someone's house as he gunned her down."
Cox pleaded not guilty, but his defense isn't denying the murder. His lawyer, Claiborne Ferguson, told the jury, "We're pretty certain you will find it was an unlawful killing, we're pretty sure you're going to convict Dexter Cox, but we're asking you to pay close attention to testimony regarding premeditation."
The defense claims it was second degree murder. However, the State says he's a premeditated cold-blooded killer. Even after this murder trial he'll have one more to go, facing another first degree murder charge for the murder of Memphis officer Edward Vidulich. Vidulich was gunned down in his home, his car burned and Cox was found with the officer's handgun.
The trial should last one week. Cox is currently serving a life sentence; if convicted of first degree murder for Cherry he could face the death penalty. There is no trial date set for the murder of Vidulich.
