Prosecution rests in Bell case; trial to continue next week

JONESBORO, Ill. -- The state rested its case after calling its final two witnesses Friday in the murder trial of Jessie Bell.

Patrick Turner, the brother of Bell's co-defendant, Travis Turner, testified first.

Under questioning by prosecutor Tyler Edmonds, he testified he and several others had gone late April 11 or early April 12, 2014, to a house at 313 Douglas St. in Anna, Illinois, that his father, Ricky Turner, and Jennifer Smith were renting from James "Jimmy" Morrison.

"We were going to clean up the house my dad had rented from Jimmy," Patrick Turner said.

Patrick Turner said after he'd been at the house for a while, he went to pick up Travis Turner "because he wanted to check out the house." He testified Morrison showed up at the house about 20 minutes later.

"When Jimmy arrived, he was a little drunk. You could tell he'd been drinking," Patrick Turner said, adding he had not been drinking that evening.

The witness stated he had gone to Wal-Mart to buy vacuum cleaner belts. When he got back, he was told Bell had been elbowed in the mouth by Morrison.

Patrick Turner said it was apparent Bell was angry. "You could tell he had anger in his voice," he testified.

Patrick Turner left again to take Jennifer Smith's daughter, Deanna Smith, home and returned about 10 minutes later. He said when Morrison saw a case of beer had been knocked off a counter and broke open, he got mad. Morrison told everyone to get out of the house, Patrick Turner stated.

He said everyone went to get into their vehicles, but Morrison could be heard "throwing stuff inside the house." At that point, Bell exited the vehicle.

"And that's when the fight happened," Patrick Turner said.

He said Morrison "threw a couple punches at Jessie," who tried to block them, and a scuffle ensued.

Patrick Turner said when they came outside the house, Bell said "F--k it, Travis; just go ahead and hit him."

Under questioning by Edmonds and Bell's attorney, Patrick Duffy, Patrick Turner testified he had lied to police during his initial interview after the incident by not telling them Travis Turner had been involved and that Bell had yelled at him to hit Morrison.

"That's because I was afraid my brother was going to get in trouble," he said.

Patrick Turner testified Bell hit Morrison eight to 10 times and was pulled off Morrison by him and Ricky Turner, but went back again a second time and hit him another 18 to 20 times, holding him by the hair.

"We didn't want what happened to happen," Patrick Turner said when asked why he pulled Bell off Morrison. "Trying to prevent that."

He said Bell took his shirt off and was walking around hollering.

"He was pumped up, ready to fight, pretty much," he said.

Patrick Turner said he left the scene, but Ricky Turner stayed behind to see whether Morrison was going to be OK.

"I had a warrant for my arrest," he said, so he was trying to "stay out of trouble." He confirmed to Duffy he was picked up later that day.

When Duffy pointed out Patrick Turner had lied to police during questioning on two occasions in 2014, he replied: "There was some things I lied about the first time."

Duffy commented there wasn't much reason to believe his testimony.

"It really doesn't matter if you believe me or not," Patrick Turner replied.

The state's final witness was Jennifer Smith, who had gotten off work at Casey's General Store about 11:30 p.m. April 11 and gone to the house on Douglas Street.

She said she saw no physical contact between Bell and Morrison, other than Morrison elbowing Bell in the mouth, until the altercation outside. She said at the time he was elbowed, Bell stood up and she thought they were going to fight. Later, she added: "He respected Rick and me enough" not to fight in the house. She said she'd heard Bell tell Morrison he didn't want to be his enemy; he wanted to be his friend.

She said after Morrison had told everyone to get out, she and Ricky Turner were at her vehicle when he ran to help pull Bell off Morrison.

In tears, Jennifer Smith described how she had seen Bell hitting Morrison.

"Did you see Jimmy make any aggressive moves toward Jessie?" asked Edwin Parkinson, an assistant prosecutor.

"No, I did not," she replied.

Instead of leaving, she said, Ricky Turner got on the phone, presumably to call 911. Police and an ambulance arrived a few minutes later.

"Did Jimmy Morrison ever strike back at the defendant?" Parkinson asked.

"No. He couldn't," she said.

Under Duffy's cross-examination, Jennifer Smith testified she originally told police her daughter, who had been taken home before the incident occurred, had not been at the house that night.

"I didn't want to get her involved," she said.

Duffy asked whether she had initially told police Bell wasn't there.

"I didn't want to get anyone in trouble," she said.

At the point. the state rested its case, Duffy made a motion for a directed verdict, which is a ruling entered by a judge for a particular verdict after determining there is no legally sufficient evidence for the jury to reach a different conclusion.

Judge Mark Boie denied the motion. "My opinion is that there is sufficient evidence to let the case proceed."

The defense is scheduled to take up its case Monday morning.

kwebster@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

Market Street, Jonesboro, IL 62952

313 Douglas St., Anna, IL