Charles Hill trial begins

By Lisa Shapiro
Staff Writer
In the opening day of the Charles Hill trial on Nov. 18, the Jackson County District
 Attorney’s office called a dispatcher and a Texas Ranger to
 testify.
         Texas Ranger Drew Pilkington talked about some of the investigative
 procedures that took place on Oct. 5, 2013 and described some of the
 images that were displayed on a projection screen. Some of the images
 included gun shell cases, a splatter of blood  and different angles of
 the residence where the incident occurred.
         Hill, 21, plead not guilty to two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon,
 aggravated assault on a peace officer and deadly conduct. Hill was also indicted on an attempted capital murder charge, but that charge has been dismissed, according to Hill’s attorney Larry Sauer of Austin. 
         Jackson County Sheriff Office dispatcher Jennifer Chastain told members of the court and the 14-member jury that she followed through with the 911 call properly and followed all procedures. A recording of the 911 call was played and transcripts of
 what was said in the call was handed out to the jury and members of
 the court.
The caller claimed Hill was intoxicated during the incident. Hill and the neighbors had been partying.
         District Attorney Bobby Bell said Hill allegedly insulted an 11-year-old girl before he was asked to leave the residence. Hill and Michael Brandon Cornwell was struggling with a .22-caliber before it was set off near Cornwell’s head. 
Hill allegedly left the neighbor’s home and came back to fire a 270 rifle at his neighbor’s house, then at Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy Jason McCarrell. McCarrell returned fire and Hill sustained a gunshot wound to his arm, Bell said. 
A more in-depth story will be published in the Nov. 26 issue of the Jackson County Herald-Tribune. 
         The trial will resume at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Rate this article: 
Average: 2.6 (8 votes)