Willis Requests Another Delay; Could Stretch Murder Case Into Sixth Year
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News Channel 11 File Footage
Willis in court, April 2008.
Published: May 21, 2008
Updated: May 21, 2008
Accused killer Howard Hawk Willis asked Washington County Criminal Court Judge Lynn Brown to delay his murder trial—again.
Willis has been through nine attorneys and more than five years of legal proceedings. His first court date was September 15th, 2003.
In 2002, Willis killed teenagers Adam Chrismer and Samantha Leming, dismembered their bodies, and stored some their remains in plastic containers at a Johnson City storage facility, police said.
His murder trial is tenatively scheduled for July 10th.
In April, Brown ruled Willis would represent himself with one of those nine former attorneys, Jim Bowman, as his elbow counsel. Willis was manipulating the system by filing complaints and lawsuits against those attorneys, Brown said.
The Johnson City Press reports Willis filed three new motions this month. The first motion appealed Brown’s ruling that the defendant represent himself.
The second asked the court to delay his trial date. Willis said he needs more time to prepare his case.
If granted, the third motion would give him additional access to telephones within the Washington County Detention Center. Willis said he was having a hard time tracking down witnesses.
Willis’ next hearing is scheduled for May 28th.
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Reader Reactions
Hawk Willis needs to go to trial now….so what if he needs more time to prepare for his case….he has had six years that the taxpayers have kept him up to work on his case….Judge Brown needs to step up and say “Times Up”....He did not give those 2 kids six years….
Howard Hawk Willis is getting his way and it is about time that a judge steps in and stops all of this. This has been going on way too long and I am sick and tired of seeing him on the news every couple of months. He really knows how to use the justice system to his advantage!!
This judge needs to put his foot down and just say NO. We are getting this trial underway NOW! Taxpayers are tired of keeping this guy up in jail.
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