Post by aleamon98 on Aug 21, 2009 19:47:13 GMT -5
Prosecutors in the Sam Parker murder trial now have the testimony they needed to convict the former police sergeant of the murder of his wife Theresa in 2007.
A fellow officer says Parker admitted it to him over the phone.
But, defense attorneys point-out that story came out only after former officer Ben Chaffin was offered immunity.
Day two of the Sam Parker murder trial began with a lengthy video deposition of a friend and neighbor of the Parker's, Virginia Cordell.
She has died since that May 6th deposition, but on the video she indicated she heard Parker had threaten violence against his wife.
On the evening of March 21st, the last day anyone had seen Theresa Parker, her estranged husband Sam spent most of the night talking with an old friend, Christy Bellflower. At 4 in the morning he called fellow officer Ben Chaffin and talked for 6 minutes. Chaffin was called to the stand.
BEN CHAFFIN, FORMER LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER "he said he had really done it this time...really gonna do it this time. Q-You're not sure which? No Ma'm. What else? He said he had a place that was hard to find..you never would find it. What else? And, that he had shot Theresa through the head".
Chaffin went on to say that Parker earlier had discussed a nearby pond that had a lot of turtles, and that anything thrown in there would not last long.
But Bellflower testified she was close enough to hear part of what Parker said to Chaffin on the phone. She was cross-examined by defense attorney David Dunn.
CHRISTY BELLFLOWER, PARKER'S FRIEND IN: If there was discussion about killing anyone, you would have remembered that....(pause) .probably."
The defense maintains that Chaffin, who now lives in Alabama, was interviewed three times by the GBI, but didn't remember his friend's phone call confession until he was offered immunity. Chaffin faced up to 28 years in prison for four felony offenses, including evidence tampering, and making false statements to investigators. Chaffin repeatedly told the court he remembered little about any of the interviews.
CHAFFIN "you didn't tell GBI...I forgot about it."
Theresa Parker's body has never been found, and Parker remains in jail without bond.
The jury is brought in daily from Bartow county.
www.wdef.com/news/sam_parker_trial_day_2/08/2009
A fellow officer says Parker admitted it to him over the phone.
But, defense attorneys point-out that story came out only after former officer Ben Chaffin was offered immunity.
Day two of the Sam Parker murder trial began with a lengthy video deposition of a friend and neighbor of the Parker's, Virginia Cordell.
She has died since that May 6th deposition, but on the video she indicated she heard Parker had threaten violence against his wife.
On the evening of March 21st, the last day anyone had seen Theresa Parker, her estranged husband Sam spent most of the night talking with an old friend, Christy Bellflower. At 4 in the morning he called fellow officer Ben Chaffin and talked for 6 minutes. Chaffin was called to the stand.
BEN CHAFFIN, FORMER LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER "he said he had really done it this time...really gonna do it this time. Q-You're not sure which? No Ma'm. What else? He said he had a place that was hard to find..you never would find it. What else? And, that he had shot Theresa through the head".
Chaffin went on to say that Parker earlier had discussed a nearby pond that had a lot of turtles, and that anything thrown in there would not last long.
But Bellflower testified she was close enough to hear part of what Parker said to Chaffin on the phone. She was cross-examined by defense attorney David Dunn.
CHRISTY BELLFLOWER, PARKER'S FRIEND IN: If there was discussion about killing anyone, you would have remembered that....(pause) .probably."
The defense maintains that Chaffin, who now lives in Alabama, was interviewed three times by the GBI, but didn't remember his friend's phone call confession until he was offered immunity. Chaffin faced up to 28 years in prison for four felony offenses, including evidence tampering, and making false statements to investigators. Chaffin repeatedly told the court he remembered little about any of the interviews.
CHAFFIN "you didn't tell GBI...I forgot about it."
Theresa Parker's body has never been found, and Parker remains in jail without bond.
The jury is brought in daily from Bartow county.
www.wdef.com/news/sam_parker_trial_day_2/08/2009