The Pensacola attorney who represented the young murder defendant, Alex King, was killed in a plane crash, last night.

He died along with his best friend, a Pensacola businessman.
Those close to the men say they died doing what they love, spending time with friends.
The ultra light plane crashed into the treetops, just before eight.

Witness, James Bailey heard the engine cut out and says the plane began coasting, but it banked too hard.

"When it tilted too much it was just like if you had a ball, it dropped straight on down and I just heard it go, boom!"

Baldwin County Emergency crews found Attorney James Stokes on the ground and the body of his best friend, John B. Johnson still in the wreckage.

Lt. Huey Mack is with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office:
"One of the individuals lived a short time after the crash, but was pronounced dead here at the scene along with the other gentelman who was still in the plane."

Johnson's wife, Allison, is devastated. She says the men bought the plane together less than two months ago.

Stokes is a former Marine who flew a helicopter in the Gulf War.
Johnson was still learning to fly.

"The way that they normally flew was Jim would be in the front seat and John would be in the back seat," Allison says. "So John would fly some while they were up, but not do the landing and take off and stuff, that's more dangerous."

Johnson was a Pensacola businessman who ran for an Escambia County Commission seat in 2000. He was also a father and grandfather. He owned the Cantonment property where Stokes had his office.

"He's like our son," Allison says. "He's older than me, but he's like our son, yeah we just did everything together. It's unreal. It's just going to be a totally different world."

Stokes is best known for defending Alex King, the younger of two brothers convicted of killing their father.

In January, he received the annual state pro bono award for his work on the case.
Stokes' assistant says he often took on cases he couldn't afford, especially ones involving children.

Most recently, he was defending 15-year-old Daniel Carter, the Pensacola teen accused of killing his uncle. The trial was scheduled for next month.

Daniel's Mother, Cindy Carter, says Stokes had a big heart.
"I wonder now who's going to take up that banner and be the champion for kids in Northwest Florida. James Stokes will be sorely missed."

The Florida bar will help reassign Stokes' cases, but those who knew both men say they can't be replaced.