BEDFORD – The defense will present their case today in the murder trial of Phillip “Butch” Deckard in Lawrence County Superior Court II.
Testimony is set to resume at 8:30 a.m. Judge John Plummer III is presiding.
You can view the trial via live-stream at this link.
Deckard, 58, is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend Charlene Silvers after a domestic dispute on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at the home the couple shared at 2738 Maul Ridge Road.
Officials say Deckard and Silvers had a 13-year relationship. Silvers died from her injuries on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at 7:24 p.m.
Lawrence County Prosecutor Sam Arp and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Allison Chopra are presenting the case for the state.
Martinsville Attorney John Boren and Tonisha Jarrett are defending Deckard.
Attorney Boren will call at least two witnesses this morning and told Judge Plummer he hopes to be done around noon.
The attorneys will then present closing arguments.
Once that is complete, Judge Plummer and the attorneys will draft jury instructions and the jury will begin deliberating.
