Suspect Denies He Murdered Victim

BARTOW | Arthur Lee White took the stand Friday and denied stabbing a Lakeland man to death in March 2005.

White, 50, of Winter Haven is charged with the first-degree murder of Gerald 'Ricky' Franklin Jr. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Franklin, 44, was a homosexual who sometimes dressed in women's clothing and was known as Sweet Ricky or Punk Ricky.

White said he had a friendly working relationship with Franklin. White testified that he would help sell clothing that Franklin stole from stores and would use the proceeds to pay for drugs.

Franklin's mother testified earlier this week that she awoke on the morning of March 25, 2005, to her son's screams for help. She found him covered in blood and stumbling around before collapsing on the floor of his bedroom.

'I just panicked,' she said, beginning to cry. 'I didn't know what to do.'

White testified that he did visit Franklin hours before his death but

picked up some stolen women's clothing only so he could sell the items.

His lawyer, Julia Williamson, questioned White about what took place at Franklin's home on West Seventh Street in Lakeland.

White said he got the impression that someone was inside Franklin's bedroom because Franklin told him to wait in the living room.

'Normally, he would tell me to come on back,' he said.

But White said he didn't see or hear anyone while he waited for Franklin to return with the clothing. He denied killing Franklin.

'Did you carry a knife?' Williamson asked.

'No,' White said.

'Did you stab Ricky?' she asked.

'No, I didn't,' White replied.

'Did you ever have an argument with Ricky?' Williamson asked.

'Me and Ricky never had a cross word,' he said.

A witness testified that White confessed to killing Franklin because Franklin tried to have sex with White.

However, White testified that Franklin never made any sexual advances toward him.

'Ricky ain't never asked me nothing about oral sex or sex — period,' he said.

Both the prosecution and defense have rested their cases. Closing arguments are expected Monday.

[ Jason Geary can be reached at jason.geary@theledger.com or 863-802-7536. ]