Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Williams siblings file new motions

A teen accused in the 2004 murder of a Nevada County man is asking the local courts for a change of venue. The motion is the latest in a series of motions in the case against R.J. Williams, 18.

Eighth Judicial District Circuit Judge Duncan Culpepper said during court on April 2 that Williams motion will be considered on April 10.

Williams was charged with the 2004 shooting death of Cummings and the first trial date set in the case was November 2004. In October 2004, Williams attorney, Catherine Compton of Little Rock, filed several motions requesting that the state eliminate the possibility of the death penalty, a later trial date and a mental health evaluation for her client.

In March 2005, then Eighth Judicial District Prosecutor Randy Wright requested that Williams be tried with Kevin Barton - another of the four accused in the crime. Both Compton and Bartons attorney objected. Barton later plead guilty for his role in the shooting and was sentenced to life in prison.

In the first of Williams mental health evaluations, the psychologist indicated that Williams said a hallucinated friend named Joe instructed him to confess his role in a Clark County murder that took place several days after the Cummings shooting. Later in that same report, the psychologist wrote that Williams said he never sees or hears things, even though he told me about his imaginary friend.

Compton filed a motion to suppress Williams statements to police. She argued that the defendant was barely 16 years old at the time and is borderline retarded.

In July of 2005, Culpepper denied Williams request to have the case moved to juvenile court and the Arkansas Court of Appeals later upheld that ruling.

In November 2006, Compton filed a motion to eliminate mention of the Clark County case. She wrote that Williams had not been convicted in that case and argued that introducing the facts of that case would be prejudicial.

In January, newly-elected Eighth Judicial District Prosecutor Chris Thomason indicated that he plans to use instances of misconduct at trial.

Compton also requested an additional mental evaluation and that report was filed by the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services on March 26. The report states that Williams did not have a mental disease or defect at the time of Cummings death, and that he has the mental capacity to play an effective role in his defense. Among the points of diagnosis is that Williams has abused alcohol and cannabis - a plant sometimes associated with recreational drug use.

The report also indicates that Williams admitted to using several drugs.

He reported that he has used alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, embalming fluid and methamphetamine, the report states. At another place in the report, Williams allegedly indicated that smoking embalming fluid made him see demons.

The psychologist described the session with Williams.

He had a smiling and pleasant manner throughout the most of the exam; this changed when discussing his charges and the allegations.

As part of the exam, the psychologist talked to Williams about the judicial system. Though Williams indicated he was cynical about the judicial process, he knew the roles of the various people involved in a trial. Of his attorney, Williams reportedly told the psychologist that She was a gift to me, given to me by God.

One of Comptons more recent motions states that she believes Williams mental state has worsened over the two years of his incarceration. She requested an additional mental evaluation and a continuance. Culpepper granted the evaluation but denied the continuance.

Culpepper is slated to hear the request for the change of venue on April 10 and the trial is currently set for July.

R.J. Williams wasnt the only one of the defendants in court April 2. His sister, Tekelia Williams, also put in an appearance before Culpepper requesting that a new attorney. Culpepper declined to remove the current attorney from the case but told Tekelia Williams that he would hear her arguments April 29. Pre-trial motions have been rescheduled for June 7.