Attorney says co-defendant Hellams won’t testify in Blair trial
Ross Hellams, the co-defendant in the Leah Martin case, will not be testifying in the E.C. Blair murder trial, according to his attorney.
Paul Lewallen, Hellams’ appointed attorney, spoke before the court without the jury present Tuesday morning, Oct. 3, and told the attorneys and judge that he has advised his client to exercise his fifth amendment rights and not testify if either side calls him as a witness.
Blair and Hellams are both charged with murder in the death of Leah Martin, who disappeared from Graham on May 29, 2015. Her remains were later found in a shallow grave a few miles outside of Graham.
Following the attorney’s statement, defense attorney David Wimberley called several witnesses to testify about such topics as Blair’s bank loans, the status of the security cameras at E.C.’s Auto Repair, the display case that Blair put in the shop’s office after Martin went missing.
Wimberley is expected to continue calling defense witnesses in Tuesday afternoon’s court session.
The Breckenridge Texan will have more details this evening.
Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
