You may remember this post I wrote about the murders of the Kaufman County District Attorney, his wife, and an Assistant District Attorney in 2013. The trial being held now is for the murder of the DA's wife, Cynthia, an active member of the local Quilt Guild and teacher at the local Quilt shop. I did not know her, but many of my sewing friends did. So, so sad.
The trial of the suspect began yesterday. The sitting Judge brought out from Dallas granted a change of venue (to the city requested by the Defense team). The suspect is a former County employee (and lawyer and Justice of the Peace) who was convicted of stealing computer monitors from the Courthouse. As a result of his conviction, he decided to murder the two DA's that brought him to justice as well as the innocent wife of the DA. That seems reasonable, yes? NO. NO. NO.
Without going into details (you can google the story--just search for Eric Williams murder trial), it took several months for the arrest, but there is little doubt he is responsible.
A friend of ours, who happens to be a County Judge in Dallas, has said for years, "Criminals generally don't get caught/convicted because they committed the crime--they get caught/convicted of being stupid." I think the same can be said in this case.
Let's see, he was caught on surveillance video taking the computer monitors out of the courthouse offices and placing them in his car...........hmm. #1 stupid act that led to his conviction that started this whole chain of events.
He was seen on surveillance video driving his personal vehicle to a storage facility to pick up the Crown Vic used in the murders and returning said vehicle after the murders. He failed to pick up spent shells used at the murder scene that matched the shells found in the storage unit where the murder weapons (that matched ballistics tests) were also found. His now ex-wife, who drove the getaway car in the first murder and accompanied him to the second murders, has turned state's evidence and will be testifying. She is also charged with capital murder, but may escape the death penalty. There are many more stupid "mistakes" he made that lead the police to him. BUT he was convinced he was too smart to get caught! Too stupid to realize there are video cameras EVERYWHERE these days?
His defense attorneys are in a tough spot. They made no opening remarks, and as I understand from news reports, are not cross examining the prosecution witnesses so far. I think their only purpose will be to try to save his life in the penalty phase. If by some strange set of events, he is not convicted of Cynthia's murder, he can (and I'm sure will) be tried for each of the other two murders. However, I'm confident the jury in the case will get it right. The evidence is overwhelming.
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