ROCKWALL, Texas — It’s been nearly two years since the Kaufman County District Attorney, his wife, and top prosecutor will killed and, today, the trial began for the former Kaufman County justice of the peace accused in the killings.
ROCKWALL, Texas — It’s been nearly two years since the Kaufman County District Attorney, his wife, and top prosecutor will killed and, today, the trial began for the former Kaufman County justice of the peace accused in the killings.
Prosecutors today began with a story that begins in early 2012. Kaufman County Justice of the Peace (JP) Eric Williams was prosecuted by Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his assistant, Mark Hasse, for theft. Williams was convicted which resulted in the forfeiture of his seat and law license.
Today, Special Prosecutor Bill Wirskye told the jury the conviction led to months of plotting, planning, and training on Williams behalf which ultimately led to the deaths of McLelland, his wife, Cynthia, and Hasse.
Williams is first being tried in the death of Cynthia McLelland who Wirskye said was an innocent bystander, a witness, in Williams revenge plot.
Prosecutors called several witnesses today including the McLelland’s son-in-law Charles Tomlinson, a Dallas Police Department officer, who testified to finding the McLelland’s bodies in their home over Easter weekend last year.
Among those called were Major Rudy Flores who testified about the crime scene at the McLelland’s home; two medical examiners who described Cynthia’s injuries; a man who sold the getaway vehicle to Williams; and a former friend and Texas Guard member who testified about Williams’ Seagoville storage unit where evidence was recovered.
A new discovery to the public was also revealed during the trial. Prosecutors allege Williams spent significant time training with his weapons near U.S. Highway 175 where additional evidence was recovered which possibly links shell casings to the gun used to kill the McLellands.
Not much was heard from the defense team who waived their right to an opening statement and declined to cross-examine most of the witnesses today.
Before the trial began, jurors were questioned on a recent CBS Criminal Minds episode which briefly references the current trial. The episode stated, “just last year in Texas, Eric Lyle Williams killed two prosecutors.” The jurors were subjected to individual voir dire. Each juror stated they had not seen the episode.
Williams’ estranged wife, Kim, is also charged and indicted in the three killings. She is expected to testify for the state in the current trial.
The trial continues Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at 9 a.m.