Fellow officers testify in Parker trial

LaFAYETTE, Ga. — Several of Sam Parker’s co-workers in the LaFayette Police Department testified this morning at his murder trial.

Mr. Parker is being tried for killing his wife, Theresa, a Walker County 911 dispatch operator, who disappeared in March, 2007. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors questioned the officers about comments Mr. Parker made about how easy it would be to hide a body where it would never be found in rural Walker County.

Some testified that Mr. Parker kept the bullet he used to shoot and kill a man in the line of duty and showed it as a trophy.

Mr. Parker killed a man with a knife who was holding a 4-year-old hostage. The on-duty shooting was ruled justifiable by the Walker County Grand Jury. The date of the incident was not established in court.

On Thursday, an officer testified he didn't think Mr. Parker saw the bullet as a trophy.

But LaFayette police officer Stacy Meeks testified that Mr. Parker made a comment about going in front of the grand jury after the shooting. He testified that Mr. Parker said he planned to go in armed because he “wasn't going down without a fight.”

Mr. Meeks also demonstrated on District Attorney Leigh Patterson a choke hold that he testified Mr. Parker knew how to use to debilitate someone.

Outside the jury’s presence, Judge Jon “Bo” Wood told Ms. Patterson and Public Defender David Dunn they both were going outside the rules of admissible evidence. Judge Wood said both sides have questioned witnesses about specific instances to illustrate whether Mr. Parker had a good character or a bad one.

Ms. Patterson has asked witnesses about Mr. Parker’s drinking and temper. Mr. Dunn has asked about instances where Mr. Parker saved lives and his reputation for humor.

The judge said the proper method is to simply ask if the defendant's reputation for character is good or bad.

The trial continues this afternoon in Walker County Superior Court.