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Murder Trial Witnesses QuestionedB C AMELIA FOSTERThe trial ot Calvin Washington, indicted in Januarv |9yC for themmurder of Juanita White on March1, 1986 continues in 54th State District CourtI'hejurs heard testimony Monday and Iuevia\. none on WednesdasW ■and more on Thursday afternoon Iestimonv in the trial has heen ski wed down as much time is being spent in the chambers of Judge George Alien, who is hearing the tnalDefense attorneys are questioning the witnesses that are now m or ha\eheen in the past incarcerated in the McLennan Counts JailmAll of whom claim to have knowledge of the crime Some of the witnesses are repeats from the JoeSidney Williams. Jr tnal held in September Williams, co-defendant with Washington in the indictment, was found guilty for his part in the cnme and is now serving a life sentence in the Texas Department of Corrections.Detective J R Price of the Waco Police testified Tuesday morning about the scene of the cnmeC.C. Jones, foreman of the grand jury , who indicted Washington, first THE H OR ID TO W .4 COm Seriesi Of The Atlantic”f om Sterling, December 6th, 7:30 p.m.said no evidence was presented to the grand jury prior to making a technical change in the indictment from a previous grand juryHe said the distnct attomevs office*■wanted the date on the indictment changed from March 1 to March 2. 1986 because thev were not surewwhich dav she diedHe later said the grand jury was presented ev idenceDennis Garvev former assistantDA tokl die jury ot six men and six women and two male alternates, that the Washington case was assigned to him after Pat Murphy left.Garvey said he knew Murphy and District Attomev Vic Fea/ell had worked on the case and that Truman Simons. Sheriffs Deputy was also working on the case.l M.F Gilliland, with the Dallas Countv Medical Examiner Foresen Lab. testified about the condition of Mrs White's body and the findings of an autopsy she did on the body She said Mrs. White died sometime between the late evening on March 1. 1986 and the early morning hoursof March 2,1986.Dr. Gilliland, said she had beenstruck on the head numerous timesanti in the breast area There werebruises on her arms, inside her thigh and both knuckles and there were bite marks on her buttocks and left hip.She said Mrs. W'hite had also been sexually assaulted due to bruises on her vagina and anus.Bessie Atkins, a co worker withjMrs White at Uncle Dan's Barbecue at Lake Air Mall East testified that Mrs. White left the restaurant around 9:30 p.m. on March 1.Dan Henderson, owner of the establishment testified also that Mrs. White had left around 9:30 p.m. in her green and w hite.Pontiac.Don Davis, brother in law of Calvin Washington, was the next to take the stand Davis is serving a 50 vear sentence in TDC on thewpsychiatric ward, for aggravated sexual assaultDavis, who was in jail at the same time that Washington was brought in, claimed the defendant told him he had killed Mrs. W hite.Davis, married to Washington's sister. Wanda, testified his body was sometimes taken over by his dead father and he would commit crimes,“1 see visions and mv father makes♦me do things, that my mind knows are wrong. Davis. 26, testified.On Thursday he testified his father was killed in Dalhart in 1975 bv the KJu klux Clan.He also said he hated his father, and when he does not take his medication, he hears his fathers voice and sees him in visions.He testified the employees of the county jail would not give him his medication w hile he was incarcerated and would not allow him to call a psychiatrist.Davis said his meetings with Washington in the county jail began shortly after the defendant was arrested on the charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.He said the meetings were arranged by Truman Simons.Defense attorneys, Doug Henager, Ken Crow and Ken Abies are con tending that Washington was an agent of the state.Karen Amos and Scott Peterson.Assistant DA s handling the case for the state sav he was not.mHenager asked Davis if he could be having visions about talking to Washington.“I'm not aware, it’s like I black out. Davis responded“I have no doubt I talked to Washington, in the right state of mind, as far as 1 know. Davis answered.Davis who was booked into the county jail on February 27, 1987 was talking to Washington less than five days after the defendant was booked in March 17, 1986.“Calvin was nervous and crying and Truman Simons said he wanted to talk to me. Davis saidDavis was released from jail on March 25. 1986 after the court dismissed a sexual assault case on a letter from the distnct attorney's office.Davis said he talked with Washington about four times before they became cellmates.Judge Allen ruled that Davis could only testify about a phone conversation he heard between Washington and his mother and the one meetinghe had with Washington withoutTruman Simons being present.Davis said he knew his release from jail was a mistake, so he turned himself in again the next day. He was in jail on violation of parole for 90 days.Defense attorneys are questioningthe procedures of the jail which allow inmates to visit each other uponrequest.Ms. Amos told the court she believed Davis was competent to(Continued On Page 2)
Newspaper Details
Waco Citizen
Waco, Texas, US
Fri, Dec 04, 1987
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Jared T.
NA, NA 22 Feb 2023
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