Deborah Wilkins’s trial was postponed after she broke her ankle amid record snows. But the trial continues and jurors deliberated for hours on March 2 without reaching a verdict. SUMMERVILLE, Ga. — The jury failed to reach a verdict in the murder trial of Deborah Elaine Wilkins after deliberating for four hours this afternoon. The jury will continue deliberations tomorrow.
In June, Wilkins killed her boyfriend, William Robert Packer, a resident with a violent reputation in Chattooga County. She faces life in prison for charges of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault. Her attorney, Public Defender David Dunn, says Wilkins killed Packer in self defense.
Dunn and Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herbert “Buzz” Franklin made closing arguments in the case this morning. Franklin attacked Wilkins’ character, pointing out that she didn’t call the police for more than 12 hours after she killed her boyfriend.
He said the physical evidence suggests Packer cowered in the corner before Wilkins shot him five times, including once in the back and once in the knee. Dunn said Packer charged at Wilkins before she opened fire.
From the future, March 4, 2015: