A murder trial ended late Friday afternoon, Aug. 29, with a not guilty verdict for 73-year-old Eric Elliott, who had been accused of fatally shooting his neighbor, 60-year-old William Womack, after an argument about Womack’s dog.
The shooting happened on April 15, 2022, in the 300 block of CR 2683 in the Hoop and Holler community east of Rye. Womack was shot once in the chest with a .45-caliber handgun that Elliott regularly carried on his property.
Jurors in the 75th State District Court, with 411th State District Judge Kaycee Jones presiding, began deliberating Thursday afternoon and continued until about 9 p.m. They resumed Friday morning at 9 a.m. and returned their verdict around 6:30 p.m.
Prosecutors in the original charge asked the judge to instruct jurors to consider manslaughter as a lesser charge. That request was denied.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Elliott shot Womack while Womack was standing in a public right of way along the road and was looking for an opportunity to harm his neighbor. Testimony and the investigation further showed that after firing the fatal shot, Elliott returned to his yardwork until law enforcement arrived.
Elliott’s own testimony reflected a diminishing memory of the events, and it was noted during the trial that he appears to struggle with memory loss.
Elliott was represented by Attorney Logan Pickett, who said afterward, “It is not lost on us that a life was lost. We feel for the Womack family. The prosecution represented them well and tried a great case with the facts given. The jury agonized over their decision but came to a just result. We appreciate their time and willingness to hold the government to its burden of proof. They represented Liberty County citizens well.”
I’m confused by this article and how a not guilty verdict could be reached. Seems like someone shooting another person who was not even transgressing and with no reported weapon in hand could ever be anything but murder. Is this Liberty County justice??
It’s simple. The judge was an idiot who doesn’t know the law. Manslaughter is a lesser included offense of murder. She didn’t allow the jury to consider the charge the jury wanted to convict on. Google her ass and see how stupid Kayce Jones is.
Criminals walk free because of this crap.
Memory loss = free murder in Liberty county