Prosecution Rests On Third Day Of Luther Watkins Capital Murder Trial

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa County jury heard additional witness and expert testimony Wednesday as the prosecution rested on the third day of the capital murder trial for Luther Bernard Watkins Jr., the man accused of the 2019 shooting death of Tuscaloosa Police Department Investigator Dornell Cousette.

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Hannah Parkinson, a forensic biologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, was the first witness called to the stand Wednesday and spoke at length about DNA evidence collected at the scene on 33rd Street following the shooting the evening of Sept. 16, 2019.

ALSO READ: Witnesses To Shooting Of TPD Investigator Take Stand Tuesday In Capital Murder Trial

This evidence included DNA swabs of blood found inside the house, on the firearms used and from the Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Kenclomisha Hughes that transported Watkins from her residence on 18th Street — where the handgun allegedly used to shoot Cousette was recovered — to DCH's hospital in Northport for treatment of the two gunshot wounds he sustained in the brief shootout.

Parkinson said the swabs resulted in a DNA match with Watkins.

Nicholas Drake, a firearms examiner with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, was then called to the stand and spent a large part of the day's proceedings discussing the two reports he made of the two 9mm handguns used in the shooting.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Drake's extensive testimony was when he said it was "inconclusive" that Cousette was shot with the Hi-Point brand handgun that was recovered in a detached truck tool box by investigators at a residence on 18th Street.

However, other evidence presented appeared to be consistent with the prosecution's argument that Cousette fired twice and Watkins fired once during the exchange, with the final two shots occurring almost simultaneously.

ALSO READ: Jury Hears Opening Statements, Testimony As Trial Begins For Man Accused Of Killing TPD Investigator

Jurors also heard from Medical Examiner Dr. Edward Reedy and Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit investigator Lonny Boshell before Kevonte Chambers was called to the witness stand by the defense.

Chambers, the grandson of the woman living in the house when the 2019 shooting occurred, was one of the individuals playing cards in the front yard when Cousette and bail bondsman Ed Giles stopped their vehicles in the street a short distance away.

Patch reported on Tuesday when Chambers' cousin and grandmother testified, with both saying they didn't see the actual shooting occur but heard the shots.

Chambers testified Wednesday that he got to the house on 33rd Street that morning and stayed until later that night following the shooting. He said he was seated at the card table out front with his back to the street when Cousette and Giles pulled up.

Chambers then said Cousette exited his black Ford Taurus with his gun drawn and told Watkins "don't run."

He also testified that he remained seated as Watkins attempted to flee into the house, followed by Cousette on a "light jog."

Then he heard the gunshots.

After hearing the exchange of gunfire, Chambers said he got up and went into the house because his two small children were inside. He also testified that he never saw Watkins run from the back of the house nor did he see him brandish a gun immediately prior to the shooting.

He did, however, concede that he had seen Watkins with a gun earlier in the day.

Chambers was also the only witness thus far to testify that he saw a red laser dot trained on Watkins prior to the shooting, which could not have come from Cousette's handgun given that the 9mm was not outfitted with a laser pointer. It is also unclear if the Taser wielded by Giles during the incident was outfitted with such a feature.

Following the shooting, Chambers said he stuck around the house and provided a statement to law enforcement

Later that night, he was contacted by his cousin Dominique Thomas, who testified Tuesday.

Thomas was calling from the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit office and was attempting to get Chambers to come down to the office to speak to investigators.

Chambers then became emotional and somewhat angry, with a call played for the jury that saw Chambers tell his cousin "it ain't my mother fucking problem."

Thomas then tried to calm his cousin, assuring him that "you're not in trouble. You gotta give a statement. They [investigators] are doing their jobs."

Circuit Court Judge Brad Almond recessed the jury around 3 p.m. Wednesday to further discuss a potential witness set to take the stand Thursday, along with hearing arguments from both sides about the admissibility of the evidence the defense plans to present.

The defense is set to resume calling its witnesses Thursday morning.

Tuscaloosa Patch will have additional coverage from the capital murder trial on Thursday.