Elicia Hughes

Elicia Hughes (born 1971) is a former educator in the Jackson Public School District. Hughes gained notoriety in Jackson, Mississippi after her husband, Brian Hughes, was murdered on June 3, 2004.

Hughes was arrested as a suspect nine months after the incident, but was released on $60,000 bond until her trial in January 2007. Prosecutors alleged that Hughes murdered her husband as revenge for his infidelity and to collect $250,000 in insurance. Gun residue was also found on the back of Hughes' hand according to police reports. She was convicted of first-degree murder on January 9, 2007 and immediately sentenced to life imprisonment.

Her attorney, John Colette, filed a motion for a new trial citing discriminatory processes prosecutors used which eliminated both black and female potential jurors. Judge Winston Kidd, the presiding judge at the first trial, agreed with the defense and granted a new trial on February 22, 2007. Hughes was again released on $150,000 bond soon afterwards.

Her new trial ended with her acquittal on 16 November 2007.

Hughes was represented at trial by John Colette, Lula Anderson, Nick Bain. Stanley Alexander and Rebbecca Mansell prosecuted the case.

Hughes is the mother of two children, aged 5 and 7.

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