KINGSTON — Prosecutors rested their case today against a man charged in the killing of a Tennessee today and a former police officer.

Clifford Leon Houston and his brother, Rocky Joe Houston, are both charged with two counts each of first-degree murder. They are being tried separately in the killings of Roane County Deputy William Birl Jones and former policeman Gerald Michael Brown on May 11, 2006.

Both sides in the trial have said the fatal shots were fired by Rocky Houston.

In an opening statement when the trial began July 16, the defense claimed all four men were involved in a gun battle and were afraid for their lives and that the Houston brothers fired in self defense.

As prosecutors wrapped up their case, Deputy Michael Herrell testified that he had trouble serving a warrant on Rocky Houston. The deputy said Houston ran from him three times when he tried to serve him a warrant for failing for appear in court in a civil case.

Jones had been trying to serve that warrant before the shootout began.

On Wednesday, Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, chief medical examiner for Knox and Anderson counties, detailed each of the 31 wounds found on the bodies of Jones and Brown.

The coroner said the evidence connected Clifford Houston to only one of the wounds. That was a shot that shattered Brown’s right elbow and lodged in his shoulder. She testified it was fired from a .45-caliber Glock pistol.

Prosecutors are asking for life prison terms for the Houston brothers if juries convict them.

Jury selection for the trial of Rocky Houston is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 10.

Comments