Trial date set in 'Big John' Williams capital murder case
A trial date has been set in Tuskegee in the “Big John” Williams capital murder case.
The trial is set to begin Oct. 7, 2024, about five years after the popular Lowndes County sheriff was shot and killed while disbursing a large crowd in the parking lot of a downtown Hayneville convenience store.
William Chase Johnson faces capital murder charges in the November 2019 fatal shooting of Williams. Johnson was 18 at the time. Retired Escambia County Circuit Judge Bert Rice granted defense attorneys’ change of venue request in June, moving the trial to Macon County.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys could not be reached for comment because there is a gag order in the case that bars participants from commenting outside court proceedings and court document filings.
Court records show that two weeks have been set aside for the trial. In a capital case there is the guilt phase, during which the jury will decide if Johnson is guilty of capital murder. If he is found guilty, the same jury will begin the penalty phase, where it will decide if Johnson faces a sentence of death or life in prison without the possibility or parole. Those are the only two options for a capital murder conviction in Alabama.
The defense successfully argued that Johnson could not get a fair trial in Lowndes County, given the nature of the case, the media attention and small population from which to draw a jury pool in Lowndes County, where Williams is held high regard. The courthouse in Hayneville was named in the slain lawman’s honor, and the crime scene is across the street and can be seen from the courtroom.
During the change of venue hearing, Rice listed those factors as being key in his decision in changing venue.
Rice was appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to preside in the case after local judges recused themselves.
Johnson has been held in the Elmore County Jail under no bond since his arrest the night of the shooting. That is standard in a capital case.
Johnson has entered a plea of not guilty due to mental disease or defect. The defense has not elaborated on what mental disease of defect Johnson may have.
Williams spent more than 40 years serving his community. He started out as a reserve deputy in 1978 under then-Sheriff John Hulett before spending three years with the Hayneville Police Department, then going back to the sheriff’s office as a “road deputy.” He worked his way up to chief deputy and was elected sheriff in 2010.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Trial date set in 'Big John' Williams capital murder case
