'Innocent until proven guilty:' Lawyer defends man charged with murder in Goldsboro dismembered body case

The attorney for Willie Lee Langston mounted a vocal defense Tuesday when his client had a court appearance on murder charges. Langston is linked to the discovery last week of a woman's dismembered body in a Goldsboro driveway.

“This is the United States of America, and a man is innocent until proven guilty,” J. Michael Ricks declared in arguing that Langston, 29, of LaGrange, be released on bond while he awaits trial.

Goldsboro police took Langston into custody Friday when he tried to pick up his car, which had been seized as part of the investigation.

Last Monday, Rodney Daniels drove up to a sordid scene at his home in the 300 block of Bright Street near downtown Goldsboro.

"I just pulled up to my house. It looks like there is a rotting corpse on my driveway," Daniels told dispatchers.

Investigators said the body was that of a woman, likely in her 30s. They're confident that they've identified the remains, but are waiting for a DNA confirmation.

Police told neighbors that the murder did not happen there and the neighborhood was not targeted.

Ricks argued that Langston is not a flight risk and would be willing to wear an ankle monitor. 

The prosecutor opposed any bond, saying Langston could end up facing the death penalty or life in prison in the case depending on if the state charges him with first-degree murder.

The judge agreed, and Langston will remain without bond at Wayne County Detention Center.

He’s due in court again on June 17 for a probable cause hearing in which prosecutors lay out the evidence they have.

After the hearing, Ricks told WRAL News that he was eager for that next step in the process to better understand and plan his defense.