KFC Murder Trial Begins Today
BY KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
HENDERSON - Sitting in his office in the Rusk County Courthouse Friday afternoon, State District Judge Clay Gossett said he is ready for the "Super Bowl" of murder trials that he has presided over during his tenure as a judge.
Gossett was referring to the capital murder trial of 49-year-old Romeo Pinkerton which is set to begin Monday at 9 a.m. in New Boston at the Bowie County Courthouse.
Pinkerton and his cousin, Darnell Hartsfield, have been indicted on five counts of capital murder for the abduction and slayings of five Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant employees from Kilgore in September 1983.
"I don't want to trivialize this or any other capital murder trial, but to preside over a trial of this magnitude is like being asked to referee the Super Bowl or umpire the World Series," Gossett said. "I have worked my entire career for a case like this."
The judge said he believes the trial will last between four and six weeks and will entail mountains of evidence.
"They say the boxes of evidence in this case would fill a good-sized room," he said. "Most of it has been condensed to 10 compact discs, which hold a lot of information."
Gossett said he believes that both the prosecution and defense would be studying the case over the weekend and trying to stifle the "butterflies."
The state's team includes Texas Attorney General Prosecutor Lisa Tanner and Rusk County District Attorney Michael Jimerson. The defense team is made up of Tyler attorney Jeff Haas and Gilmer attorney David Griffith.
"There is a lot that goes into a trial like this, and when they begin the opening arguments Monday morning it will be after much preparation," he said.
Gossett said the 24-year-old case, which had been stagnant for years before the indictments, is an important part of the history of Rusk County.
"It is important to the county's citizens, the victims' families and the defendant," he said. "I am ready for it to begin and ready for it to be over."
Staff Writer
HENDERSON - Sitting in his office in the Rusk County Courthouse Friday afternoon, State District Judge Clay Gossett said he is ready for the "Super Bowl" of murder trials that he has presided over during his tenure as a judge.
Gossett was referring to the capital murder trial of 49-year-old Romeo Pinkerton which is set to begin Monday at 9 a.m. in New Boston at the Bowie County Courthouse.
Pinkerton and his cousin, Darnell Hartsfield, have been indicted on five counts of capital murder for the abduction and slayings of five Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant employees from Kilgore in September 1983.
"I don't want to trivialize this or any other capital murder trial, but to preside over a trial of this magnitude is like being asked to referee the Super Bowl or umpire the World Series," Gossett said. "I have worked my entire career for a case like this."
The judge said he believes the trial will last between four and six weeks and will entail mountains of evidence.
"They say the boxes of evidence in this case would fill a good-sized room," he said. "Most of it has been condensed to 10 compact discs, which hold a lot of information."
Gossett said he believes that both the prosecution and defense would be studying the case over the weekend and trying to stifle the "butterflies."
The state's team includes Texas Attorney General Prosecutor Lisa Tanner and Rusk County District Attorney Michael Jimerson. The defense team is made up of Tyler attorney Jeff Haas and Gilmer attorney David Griffith.
"There is a lot that goes into a trial like this, and when they begin the opening arguments Monday morning it will be after much preparation," he said.
Gossett said the 24-year-old case, which had been stagnant for years before the indictments, is an important part of the history of Rusk County.
"It is important to the county's citizens, the victims' families and the defendant," he said. "I am ready for it to begin and ready for it to be over."
FAQ
Search Forums
Log in
Register
