Gone South S4|E10: H – Detailed Summary

Introduction

In the tenth episode of the fourth season of Gone South, host Jed Lipinski delves into the tumultuous life of Harold "H" Landry, a man whose actions intertwine crime, personal relationships, and legal battles in Southern Louisiana. This episode highlights the complexities of human nature, the intricacies of the legal system, and the profound impact of personal vendettas.

Pat Fanning's Transition to Defense Attorney

The episode begins with an introduction to Pat Fanning, a renowned attorney in Louisiana known for his aggressive prosecution strategies. After nine years as a state and federal prosecutor in New Orleans, Pat made a surprising career shift in 1983 to become a defense attorney.

H. Landry [01:46]: "I think when I was a prosecutor, people thought I was a pretty hard right lock them all up and throw away the key kind of prosecutor. And then when I became a defense attorney, people thought that I was a guy who really wanted to fight with the government and get in their face and all that sort of stuff."

Pat's transition puzzled many, but it established him as a formidable figure in both prosecution and defense.

Introducing Harold "H" Landry

By the mid-90s, Pat had built a reputation for handling high-profile criminal defense cases. His clientele included Gerald Elwood, a notorious drug gang enforcer, and Len Davis, a corrupt cop involved in a hit-and-run. When Harold Landry approached him, Pat anticipated another challenging case.

H. Landry [02:49]: "I don't know that I ever remembered anyone calling him Harold. He was always just known as H."

H. Landry was a successful engineer living in Covington, a suburb of New Orleans, known for its high incarceration rates. His personal life, however, was fraught with complications that would soon escalate dramatically.

The First Incident: Attempted Murder

H. Landry's first major legal battle involved an altercation that resulted in him shooting a man. The incident stemmed from H's extramarital affair with a married woman, leading to a confrontation with her husband.

H. Landry [04:47]: "So H said, you know, I'm an older guy, I don't exercise. And he's this young guy who works out and fancies himself a boxer. And he's going to pull me out of the car and beat me up. And so I took my gun out and told him to stay away, and he kept coming at me, so I shot him. And so what's wrong with that?"

H fired a single shot that severed the man’s carotid arteries. Miraculously, the victim survived due to the proximity of a major hospital.

H. Landry [05:28]: "So they rolled the guy who got shot, rolled him up in the hospital and immediately put him into surgery and stopped the bleeding. And he survived with really very little ill effects."

Despite the victim surviving, H. was charged with attempted murder in a region notorious for its tough stance on crime.

Building the Defense Case

Pat Fanning meticulously prepared H. Landry's defense by interviewing eyewitnesses, including a 16-year-old girl who viewed H as a "cold-blooded murderer."

H. Landry [07:00]: "My hopes were that, yeah, I was scared to death this guy was coming, he was screaming and cursing, and he was going to pull Mr. H out the car and hurt him. But instead it was like I couldn't believe he had a gun. He pulled it out and he shot the guy."

Pat faced challenges in defending H., especially with the negative perceptions from witnesses. He considered, but ultimately decided against, calling H. as a witness due to his aggressive demeanor.

H. Landry [07:35]: "I think he's just a little different. And I thought that it was going to be hard to put him on the stand and have him tell his story because he was very angry and he couldn't believe he was being prosecuted."

Instead, Pat focused on discrediting the victim’s testimony by portraying him as menacing and not a credible threat.

The Trial and Verdict

Pat presented evidence that the victim was a threatening individual, aiming to shift the jury’s perception of the altercation.

Pat Fanning [13:18]: "So it's like, you know, you're a pretty macho guy. Now let's talk about H."

Despite Pat's efforts, the jury found H. guilty of aggravated battery, sentencing him to five years probation, a $500 fine, and community service—an outcome that stunned both H. and Pat.

H. Landry [14:18]: "How in the world did you get that verdict out of a jury in Saint Tammany? How did he not get found guilty of attempted murder after he shot an unarmed guy whose wife he was fooling around with?"

H. Landry’s Personal Life and Second Crime

While H. was serving his probation, his personal life took another dark turn. He married Lucy, an online acquaintance from the UK, in 2002. Their marriage was strained, leading to H.'s eventual descent into violence.

In February 2010, Pat received shocking news that H. had killed his wife in Worcestershire, England. The brutal nature of the crime—stabbing Lucy 26 times—indicated a significant escalation from H.'s previous actions. H. claimed self-defense, stating that Lucy had threatened him with a knife, but the jury quickly dismissed his account.

Pat Fanning [21:17]: "Unlike H's trial in Louisiana years earlier, H's attorney allowed him to testify. H sobbed on the stand and said he loved his wife. He told the jury that she'd provoked him into losing self control. On the night of her death, he claimed that Lucy had come after him with a knife and he'd stabbed her in self-defense. The jury didn't buy it. It took them less than four hours to find him guilty of murder."

H. was sentenced to a minimum of 16 years in prison, a stark contrast to his earlier probation.

Reflections on H. Landry

Throughout the episode, Pat reflects on H.'s character, describing him as someone capable of extreme violence, influenced by personal vendettas and perhaps deeper psychological issues.

Pat Fanning [25:20]: "Sometimes you have these cases. This has been my experience over all these years practicing law, which is a perfect storm scenario where you have kind of nut job people on both sides. Take these two people and put them away from each other. You might not have a problem, but when you put them next to each other, neither side wants to back down. They're both aggressive, they're both kind of crazy, and you end up with a bad outcome."

H. Landry’s Ongoing Relationship with Pat

Despite the gravity of H.'s actions, their attorney-client relationship persisted. H. continued to reach out to Pat from prison, maintaining a cordial, albeit complicated, connection.

H. Landry [26:01]: "When I get his Christmas card, he tells me how many years and months he's got left. And he's down to like two or three years. And so he's like, well, you know, we still have the condos in Cozumel. We'll see you down there and we'll go have a margarita together."

Conclusion

This episode of Gone South paints a vivid portrait of Harold "H" Landry—a man whose personal failings and violent outbursts resulted in tragic outcomes. Through Pat Fanning's legal battles, listeners gain insight into the challenges of defending individuals who appear beyond redemption and the profound effects of personal vendettas in the realm of crime and justice.

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps

• H. Landry [04:47]: "So H said, you know, I'm an older guy, I don't exercise. And he's this young guy who works out and fancies himself a boxer. And he's going to pull me out of the car and beat me up. And so I took my gun out and told him to stay away, and he kept coming at me, so I shot him. And so what's wrong with that?"

• Pat Fanning [13:18]: "So it's like, you know, you're a pretty macho guy. Now let's talk about H."

• H. Landry [14:18]: "How in the world did you get that verdict out of a jury in Saint Tammany? How did he not get found guilty of attempted murder after he shot an unarmed guy whose wife he was fooling around with?"

• Pat Fanning [25:20]: "Sometimes you have these cases. This has been my experience over all these years practicing law, which is a perfect storm scenario where you have kind of nut job people on both sides."

• H. Landry [26:01]: "When I get his Christmas card, he tells me how many years and months he's got left. And he's down to like two or three years. And so he's like, well, you know, we still have the condos in Cozumel. We'll see you down there and we'll go have a margarita together."

Final Thoughts

Gone South S4|E10: H offers a gripping exploration of crime in the Southern United States, illustrating how personal relationships can spiral into violence and the legal system's role in navigating such complexities. Through detailed storytelling and compelling interviews, the episode sheds light on the darker aspects of human nature and justice.