KAUFMAN, Texas – A former justice of the peace in North Texas, who was sentenced to death in 2014 for a revenge plot that resulted in the deaths of a district attorney’s wife and two others, is seeking a new death penalty trial, as reported.
Eric Williams, once a justice of the peace, was convicted of capital murder for the deaths of Cynthia McLelland and her husband, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, as well as prosecutor Mark Hasse. Williams argues that he did not have enough time to review evidence and prepare for trial, citing this as a reason for his conviction.
The defense also claims that the trial was held before a biased judge and that the jurisdiction of Rockwall County did not provide a fair trial for Williams. Williams had previously lost his job and law license after being prosecuted for theft and burglary by the victims of his later crime.
In January 2013, Williams, wearing a mask and tactical gear, gunned down Hasse outside a courthouse building in broad daylight. Two months later, he stormed into the rural home of the McLellands and shot them both over a dozen times.
Williams’ wife, Kim, was found to have helped him carry out the killings and was sentenced to 40 years for her role. Williams himself has made several appeals to overturn his death sentence, including one in which he claimed his brain was “broken.”
A federal judge in the North District of Texas will hold a hearing on Williams’ latest request this Tuesday. Williams’ previous actions had been fueled by a desire for revenge against those he claimed had ruined his life.
This case represents a chilling and tragic sequence of events that have left deep scars on the community. Williams’ claims for a new trial must be carefully considered in light of the gravity of his crimes and the impact they had on those left behind.