Harrelson Trial Day 5

LIBERTY, September 27, 2003 - Friday business in the trial of Janet Harrelson began with Texas Ranger Frank Huff taking the stand and introducing audio tapes from the Grand Jury testimony of Mrs. Harrelson. Segments of the tapes were played for the jury in the courtroom.

District Clerk Melody Gilmore then took the stand and identified Judge Taylor’s court docket from November 13, 2002 which showed he had heard a number of cases on that day.

Sheree Peak, former Warrant Clerk at the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, then took the stand and was asked about the second bench warrant. She testified that it had been brought to her around November 12, 2003 and that Sheriff Arthur told her not to enter the bench warrant into the computer systems and that the bailiff would take care of it. During testimony Ms. Peak told that she had worked in the Sheriff’s Office for 10 years. She was asked if she had ever been told not to enter a bench warrant and she said that this was the first time it had ever happened. She also testified that she had no knowledge of a bailiff ever transporting a prisoner.

Ms. Peak testified that Odell McDuffie had called her on November 13, 2002 wanting a car. She contacted Deputy Bret Audilet who offered to go get the prisoner and Odell didn’t want him to go.

Odell testified that he had made personal errands for Judge Taylor including a trip to Louisiana, a trip to Baytown and a trip to Hoop and Holler to check on the judge’s property. He testified that he had made these trips on company time.

Odell was asked if he was contemplating a law suit against Liberty County and he indicated that he was thinking about it.

Richard Burroughs, an attorney for Janet Harrelson, testified that he thought the motion to modify Harrelson’s divorce agreement had been filed and that it was he who told Janet to go ahead and type the bench warrant to get Jeff Hale brought to Liberty County.

He testified that in 30 years of law practice he had done only 3 bench warrants.
At the close of Mr. Burroughs testimony the prosecution rested its case, as did the defense.

Closing statements by the prosecution and the defense will start Monday’s business in the trial and the case should go to the jury.

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