ROCKWALL, Texas — Testimony continued today, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, in the Eric Williams capital murder trial.
ROCKWALL, Texas — Testimony continued today, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, in the Eric Williams capital murder trial.
Yesterday, Special Prosecutor Bill Wirskye promised the 12 Rockwall County jurors in the Williams trial an emailed confession from the accused in the murders of Kaufman County prosecutor Mark Hasse, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, and his wife, Cynthia.
Today, Wirskye introduced a serious of communications which occurred through the Kaufman County Crime Stoppers online submit-a-tip form. Hand written numbers on a piece of paper seized in a search of the Williams’ home link the tips to Williams, he said.
In those tips, Wirskye says Williams is taking credit for the killings and promises no further attacks for a week if a demand is met — the resignation of one of the county district or magistrate judges.
The prosecution introduced several witnesses to describe the Seagoville, Texas, storage unit Williams allegedly rented through a former friend and fellow Texas State Guard member. The storage unit contained a white Ford Crown Victoria which investigators say was used in the McLelland killings. The title for the Crown Victoria, registered to an alias, was seized from Williams home. The former owner of the vehicle identified Williams in court as the purchaser of that vehicle.
Also seized in the storage unit were 30 weapons, tactical gear including a ballistics vest, an incendiary device, and ammo. An unspent .223 casing was analyzed by a Texas Department of Public Safety ballistics specialist who, today in court, stated the round was cycled through the same weapon used in the McLelland killings based on spent casings found at the crime scene and also the same gun used under a U.S. Highway 175 underpass where prosecutors say Williams practiced shooting.
A foot locker with the name Eric Williams stenciled on the top was also seized from the storage unit. It contained what appears to be Williams’ Texas State Guard equipment, camouflage gear, and a binder with a velcro patch with the name Williams.
Investigators also found two AR-15 lowers in the storage unit. Testimony today indicates Williams’ asked a second fellow Texas State Guard member how to dispose of an AR-15 upper which would make the weapon traceable through ballistic examination.
A Kaufman County deputy testified to taking a gun shot residue test on Williams’ hands the night of the McLelland murders. The test came back positive for gun shot residue.
The defense again, like yesterday, declined to cross-examine many of the witnesses which resulted in an early ending to the second day of testimony. The trial continues Wednesday, December 3, 2014, at 9 a.m.
