Trial begins for Kilgore man accused in fatal shooting over nude photos
LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) - Trial began on Tuesday for a Kilgore man accused in a 2015 murder, where a man was found in a truck with a gunshot wound to the head.
Jessie Clifford Brown, 42, was arrested in Oct. 2017 for the murder of John Allen Franco, of Liberty City. Back in May of 2015, investigators discovered Franco in his truck with a single gunshot wound to the upper left side of his head, according to an arrest warrant. A witness claimed Brown and two other men had pulled up next to them, when Brown allegedly got out and shot Franco through the driver’s side window. The witness told the investigator that Brown wanted to assault Franco because Franco had threatened to show nude photos of his stepdaughter, who the documents allege Franco formerly had a relationship with.
Brown appeared on Tuesday in Judge Alfonso Charles’ courtroom, where he pleaded not guilty. The state has called the case a homicide, and said a revolver was used to kill Franco. In contrast, the defense asked the jury to “reserve judgment until the end of the case.”
The state began by calling one of Brown’s neighbors, who said they often drank alcohol together and that when he saw Brown with a pistol, he “thought he was an idiot.” The man remarked that “as parents and family, we’ll never get full details or every question we have about this situation answered,” but said he feels that as parents, they deserve answers.
The defense objected to this testimony three times, but was overruled. The trial continued for about two hours before going into recess, and when court resumed, the defense questioned the witness.
After that, the state called a DPS trooper to the stand, who showed the intersection in Gregg County where the shooting allegedly took place. They also called a patrol lieutenant from Harrison County and a retired deputy from the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy discussed how gunshot residue might be revealing in this case.
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