TERRELL, Texas – A former Texas judge convicted of the cold-blooded murders of a district attorney and his wife, as well as shooting another prosecutor wearing a Halloween mask, has requested a new trial for the death penalty.
Eric Lyle Williams, a one-time justice of the peace in Kaufman County, is seeking a retrial approximately ten years after he committed the vengeful murders of District Attorney Mike McLelland, Cynthia McLelland, and Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse.
Williams meticulously planned the murders in early 2013, driven by his anger over his own prosecution and conviction for the theft of county computer equipment. Out on bail for theft, Williams shot Hasse in front of at least three witnesses as the prosecutor was walking to the courthouse.
After a manhunt, Williams went on to knock on the McLellands’ front door over Easter weekend and proceeded to shoot Mike McLelland 16 times and Cynthia McLelland eight times inside their home in Forney, Texas.
His wife, Kim Williams, accompanied him on both occasions, serving as the getaway driver and later testifying that Eric Williams considered Cynthia McLelland “collateral damage.” She also revealed that her husband had a hit list, and she ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for her involvement in the killings.
Despite a previous unsuccessful attempt for a retrial, Eric Williams claims that he was not given a fair trial, citing bias from the judge and the media’s influence. The location of the trial was moved from Kaufman County to Rockwall County due to intense media attention, but Williams argues that even this was not enough.
In sentencing Eric Williams, Judge Mike Snipes compared him to notorious serial killers and expressed concern that Williams had a hit list targeting other justice officials. Evidence also showed that Williams wanted to kill his wife and had threatened an ex-girlfriend.
Williams’ request for a new trial comes after he was first convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in December 2014. The details of his motion for a new trial were not immediately available, but it is clear that he continues to challenge the conviction and sentencing.
The prosecution and defense have not yet provided comments on the request for a new trial.