LaFAYETTE, Ga. — Former LaFayette police officer Harbin “Ben” Chaffin has been given immunity from prosecution and will testify against his one-time co-worker Sam Parker.
That statement by District Attorney Leigh Patterson came in her opening statement in Mr. Parker’s trial on charges of murdering his wife, Theresa Parker, in 2007.
Mr. Parker’s attorney, Public Defender David Dunn, said in his opening statement that there’s no evidence Mr. Parker committed a crime.
The Walker County 911 dispatch operator was last seen on March 21, 2007. Despite massive searches, her body has never been found.
Mr. Parker also faces three other felony charges.
Mr. Chaffin also was charged with three felonies, including one alleging he helped Mr. Parker break into Mrs. Parker’s e-mail.
A jury of nine women and six men that was chosen last week in Bartow County began hearing the case this morning in Walker County Superior Court.
Mr. Dunn said in his opening statement that his client has been presumed guilty when he must be presumed innocent.
He said that although he cannot know what happened to Mrs. Parker — maybe she's in Mexico or Gatlinburg or Florida — it is the jury's obligation to find him not guilty because there is no evidence to prove the contrary.
Ms. Patterson outlined the evidence her team has gathered, creating a time line for what happened the night Mrs. Parker disappeared. She said she plans to call many witnesses, play phone calls, show a video deposition and present forensic evidence that proves Mr. Parker killed his wife.
The Times Free Press will update this case through the day.
See Tuesday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.
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