Capital murder trial begins for man accused of slaying bystander in shooting outside courthouse
Jury selection began Tuesday in the Galveston, Texas, capital murder trial for a man accused of slaying a bystander when he also shot family members outside the Jefferson County courthouse in Beaumont last year.
Investigators say Bartholomew Granger shot Minnie Ray Sebolt, 79, outside the courthouse door as he was firing at his ex-wife and another relative on March 14, 2012, wounding both. The shooting is believed to relate to Granger’s then-ongoing trial at the courthouse in a sexual assault case. Authorities said that during a break, he got into his truck, drove to the front of the courthouse and started shooting, according to the Associated Press and KFDM.
Authorities say Granger was trying to kill relatives in retaliation for their testimony against him at the 2012 trial, and Sebolt was caught in the crossfire.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “One Killed, at Least Three Others Injured by Shots Fired Outside Texas Courthouse”
ABAJournal.com: “Lawyer Who Witnessed Fatal Attack Outside Texas Courthouse Told Gunman ‘You Don’t Have to Kill Me’”
