Denton County Sheriff's Captain Dwight
Crawford was on the stand much of the
day, continuing the testimony he started
yesterday.
Crawford was one of the six law officers
involved in the raid on OT's House in
Argyll last February 20th, when Ranger
Bob Doherty was fatally shot in the head
with a 38 caliber pistol shot which
was fired through a door.
Various evidence littered the railing and
floor in front of the jury, including the
alleged murder weapon, guns carried by
the officers that night and photographs
of the scene.
There was also the clothing worn by
Doretti when he was killed, complete with
his identifying badge.
The only visible evidence that he was a
police officer.
A major defense contention is expected to
be that he did not know the men in the
raid were law officers.
The prosecution is asking for the death
penalty because Doherty was a peace
officer performing his duty.
Crawford, however, insisted in his
testimony that he called out twice
identifying himself as a police officer.
Defense attorney Hal Jackson began
cross-examination shortly before the noon
recess. His provocative questioning
elicited several warnings from Judge Bob
Schofield, but it also established that
several officers had been drinking beer
prior to the raid.
Another development has to do with what
was thought to be the prosecution's chief
witness, 22 year old Jimmy Leonard Baker,
the police informant who accompanied the
officers towards the residence to
allegedly purchase marijuana.
District Attorney Jerry Cobb said Baker
probably would not be called as a
prosecution witness, but he couldn't say
for sure.
Baker was arrested the night of the
shooting for possession and delivery of
marijuana.
Mother and father from New Jersey and his
sister from Michigan were there for
today's testimony, as were some friends.
The family plans to continue to be there
for the duration of the trial, even if it
goes several weeks as expected.
Monroe, The Texas News.