Jury ends weekend without verdict in William Chase Johnson murder trial

MACON COUNTY, Alabama (WSFA) – Defendant William Chase Johnson’s fate now rests with a jury that is actively deliberating his innocence or guilt at the Macon County Courthouse.

Johnson is on trial for the shooting death of Lowndes County Sheriff John “Big John” Williams on the night of November 23, 2019.

Both the defense and the prosecution agree that Johnson pulled the trigger, but for different reasons. Prosecutors say it was a capital murder. The defense says it was self-defense.

WSFA Roku Trial by William Chase Johnson — Trial of William Chase Johnson(WSFA Roku William Chase Johnson Trial)

Jury deliberations began Thursday, about three weeks after they were brought in and selected for trial. Twelve citizens of Macon County began to discuss the case among themselves behind closed doors.

The jury was still unable to reach a verdict late Friday. The judge charged Allen, urging them to continue their deliberations and try to come to a common conclusion if possible. They told the judge around 4:00 p.m. Friday that they had made no progress. Then the jury adjourned for the weekend.

Due to another case at the courthouse on Monday, the hearing will not resume until Tuesday.

During Thursday’s deliberations, jurors had many questions for the judge, addressing him three times.

The first question concerned the elements of capital murder, prompting the judge to reread the indictment and how the law defines capital murder.

The second question sought to clarify, legally speaking, whether the sheriff was on duty when he responded to the Hayneville gas station where he controlled the crowd before he was shot. The judge told the jury he could not answer that question.

The third issue was to request copies of court records, which the judge said were missing.

Sheriff John "Big John" Williams was responding to an incident at a gas station in Hayneville... — Sheriff John “Big John” Williams was responding to an incident at a Hayneville gas station when he was shot in the line of duty.(Source: WSFA 12 News)

Although Johnson was charged with capital murder, the judge instructed them on four possible decisions they could make. Those verdicts include the death penalty, murder, manslaughter, or they could come back and say Johnson is not guilty. However, the jury must first consider a verdict of capital murder.

The judge instructed that if jurors cannot agree on a verdict in capital murder, they can consider other possible verdicts.

Johnson’s attorneys pressed jurors to argue that their client acted in self-defense, arguing that the sheriff was holding him at gunpoint when Johnson shot him. The state says the science doesn’t match Johnson’s story.

If jurors find Johnson guilty of capital murder, they will also have to decide whether he will receive life in prison or the death penalty. If he is found guilty of one of the lesser charges, the sentence will be determined by a judge.

The case is being heard in Macon County after a change of venue to ensure Johnson can get a fair trial.

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