The Hattiesburg man who repeatedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend last summer on West Pine Street will spend up to 40 years behind bars after being found guilty in Forrest County Circuit Court of aggravated assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm and tampering with physical evidence.
One June 22, 12th Circuit District Attorney Lin Carter announced that Judge Robert Helfrich passed down the sentence for 61-year-old David Lee Star after a trial in that court. Star had previously pleaded guilty to the charges in the case, which was prosecuted by assistant DA Bryan Buckley.
“Violent crimes will simply not be tolerated,” Carter said. “This was not a case of self-defense, and there was no justification for such a vicious attack.
“The Hattiesburg Police Department – both patrol officers and the detectives – did an outstanding job in investigating the case and then apprehending and questioning the suspect. The victim is doing much better, and I hope this can provide some closure for her.”
Star’s sentence includes 20 years in prison for the aggravated assault charge, 10 years for the charge of being a felon in possession of a weapon – which includes a day-by-day sentence as a habitual offender – and 10 years for the charge of tampering with physical evidence. The sentences will be served concurrently with each other, and Star will not be released until he serves a minimum of 10 years in prison.
According to court documents, the stabbing incident occurred at approximately 10:40 p.m. on August 3 of last year, after which HPD officers responded to a call at 202 Hardy Street regarding a distraught woman – later identified as Sarah Latham – who was “covered in blood” and running down the street. Latham, who was suffering from multiple stab wounds, was immediately treated on the scene by members of the Hattiesburg Fire Department and taken to a local hospital for further treatment.
An investigation was then opened, during which time officers interviewed witnesses before collecting and reviewing evidence. The investigation uncovered that Latham was in Memorial Park, which is located on West Pine Street in Hattiesburg, with ex-boyfriend Star earlier in the evening on the date of the stabbing incident.
While the two were sitting on a bench at the park, Star became angry with Latham and reportedly told her “if I can’t have you, no one can,” at which point he began stabbing her in the neck and arms.
Latham fled from the scene and was witnessed by a passerby in a car, who called 911. Officers then went to the scene at Memorial Park, where they found Latham’s purse and blood on the ground.
Star was located several days after the incident, to which he confessed. He also admitted to disposing of the knife he used in the attack.
After the incident, Star was indicted by a Forrest County grand jury for the aforementioned charges of aggravated assault, being a felon in possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. After rejecting a plea offer, Star proceeded to trial on May 4, where the jury returned guilty verdicts for all three charges.
During a June 22 sentencing hearing, it was discovered that Star had two previous convictions in Jones County Circuit Court: one charge of burglary and one charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. That determined him as a non-violent habitual offender, pursuant to state statute.
