ROCKWALL, Texas — The state and defense rested their case in the Eric Williams capital murder trial at approximately 1:50 p.m. on the third day of testimony — with the defense electing not to call any witnesses of their own.
ROCKWALL, Texas — The state and defense rested their case in the Eric Williams capital murder trial at approximately 1:50 p.m. on the third day of testimony — with the defense electing not to call any witnesses of their own.
The 12 members of the Rockwall County jury were released for the day briefly following the closure of the case on both sides and the trial is expected to resume Thursday, December 4, 2014, at 8: 45 a.m.
Eric Williams is accused and has been indicted for the capital murders of Kaufman County prosecutor Mark Hasse, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, and his wife, Cynthia, in 2013. Kim Williams, Eric Williams now-estranged wife and an accused accomplice in the murders, was expected to testify in the case for the state but ultimately did not.
Like the first two days of the trial, the defense made little attempts to cross examine the state’s witnesses in the case.
Today, the state presented additional evidence of finger prints on a white Ford Crown Victoria. Two witnesses testified the finger prints were that of Williams.
Surveillance video shown today allegedly depicts a dark truck, belonging to Williams, entering a storage unit in Seagoville, Texas, to which the state presented evidence linking back to Williams. The Crown Victoria is then shown exiting the storage unit.
Additional Surveillance video obtained on Helms Trail shows a Crown Victoria traveling northbound in the direction of the McLellands home just before the time the state alleges Mike and Cynthia were killed. Minutes later, surveillance shows the what is believed to be the same vehicle traveling northbound on FM 1641 in the opposite direction of the McLellands home.
Then, surveillance shows a Crown Victoria entering the storage unit in Seagoville and the dark pickup truck leaving.
The defense argued the video quality wasn’t sufficient enough to determine the occupants or a license plate.
Several forensic analyst testified about Lexis Nexus computer searches of the several variances of the name Michael and McLelland, Craigslist history data allegedly linked to the purchase of the Crown Victoria, and cell phone data belonging to a cell phone recovered at Williams’ home near the title of the Crown Victoria.
Although not required, Eric Williams stood before Judge Snipes and stated he would not take the opportunity to testify on his behalf in the case.
The trial is set to resume tomorrow with the state and defense taking 45 minutes each for closing arguments.
