Opening statements were heard this afternoon in the murder trial of Deborah Wilkins who is accused of murder in the shooting death of Robert "Bob" Packer in June of last year.

District Attorney Herbert "Buzz" Franklin began by telling the jurors that they could expect to hear testimony during the trial that would include references to drug and alcohol abuse and racially charged language.  Franklin described Wilkins and Packer as being extremely drunk at the time of the shooting.  Franklin described Wilkins' behavior after the shooting as one trying to evade questions by law enforcement and not being cooperative with the investigation into Packer's death.  The district attorney told jurors to listen carefully to the medical examiners testimony and described the five bullet wounds to Packer, including one to the back.  Franklin said "In the end the evidence will show that Packer was murdered by this defendant." 

When Public Defender David Dunn began his statement, he told the jurors that no one was disputing the fact that Wilkins had shot and killed Packer.  Dunn said that there were facts that the defense agreed with the prosecution on.  The defense agrees that Packer was shot and killed in June of last year and that there were several bullet wounds to Packer's body.  Dunn told the jurors that he wanted them to ask themselves the question, "why did Packer die?"  Dunn then quoted the words to the Jim Croce song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." He told the jurors that in that song Bad Bad Leroy Brown met his fate because he was a bad man.  He told the jurors, "that's what we have here; Packer died because of his own meanness."  

At the end of the opening statements, the prosecution called it's first witness, Chief Deputy Kevin Wood.  

We will have more updates from the Wilkins murder trial on AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio and on the web at www.chattoogainfo.com