![]() Hickman, saying that such testimony had been thrown out of the previous trial and that it would only confuse the jury. The prosecution attempted to block any testimony related to Mr. Mason and Cecil Hickman, a caretaker of property on Signal Mountain. While cross-examining witness Stanley Nixon, Attorney Cavett asked about an incident between Mr. Killingsworth, "You really need to call the police and let them know." But she said he did not call at the time. Kennedy said a few weeks later she heard that three men had been killed after going to the area where they had been accosted by Casteel. Killingsworth said, "We begged him to let us go." I would kill if I had to to keep people off the property." He said Casteel told him, "You're playing a dangerous game. He said when Casteel asked for his driver's license, he told him, "I'd rather not. He said Casteel approached them carrying a shotgun. He said they heard someone screaming, "Stop, don't go any further." Michael Killingsworth said he and Deanne Kennedy went to the remote site on June 11, 1988. Belk said that he could.īoth men were required to sign Casteel’s book. When asked by Attorney General Bill Cox if he could look right down the barrel of the gun, Mr. He said Casteel said either, "Get off my property or I'll shoot you," or "Get off my property or I'll kill you," - he could not remember which.ĭerrick Belk said he was in that same pickup and recalled Casteel cocking the gun and pointing it at his head. The names of Mills and his friend were the last ones entered.ĭavid Mosteller told of going to the Casteel property in a pickup and of Casteel holding a shotgun. He said Casteel made them write down their names, addresses and description of their vehicles.Ī book was entered as evidence in which Casteel had kept such names. "I have never met anybody who scared me as much as he did," Mr. The witness said he reached to shake his hand, but Casteel pulled up a shotgun. He said they made it past the Helican Gate in a 4x4 truck when they were confronted by an angry, red-faced Casteel. That was the day the trio disappeared - July 9, 1988. The first witness was Terry Mills, who said he went to the Casteel property with a co-worker, who is now his brother-in-law. He said five shotgun shells were found at the Helican Gate on Casteel property, but he said they did not come from Casteel's shotgun. ![]() "Who else would go to such extreme lengths to move the bodies?" he said.Īttorney Cavett said a number of stories had changed over the 15-year time period and he said witnesses' "memories have been enhanced to make Mr. He said they were put in a place they would be found to divert attention from the murder site. He said the bodies wound up in an illegal dump in Marion County. Davis, who is trying the case along with District Attorney Bill Cox, noted that special efforts were required to move the bodies and vehicles. The state contends that Casteel killed Richard Mason, 49 Kenneth Griffin, 22, and Earl Smock, 23, when they went three-wheeling on his remote property at the Blue Hole on the mountain. In opening statements Thursday, special prosecutor Lee Davis said Casteel was the only person with the motivation to carry out the triple Signal Mountain murders in 1988.īut defense attorney John Cavett said, "Frank Casteel did not commit this crime."Ī Nashville jury is hearing proof in the 15-year-old murder case at the Courts Building in Chattanooga.Ĭasteel was earlier convicted and given three life sentences, but the case was overturned and a new trial ordered. Some witnesses from the first trial have since died. It was testimony the witness had given at the first trial. The testimony of one witness, who is now medically unable to come to court, was read to the panel. The jury from Nashville continued to hear from witnesses who said Casteel ran them off from his remote Signal Mountain property. The incident was at the Boathouse Restaurant on Riverside Drive. The juror said, "It could have been someone trying to tell someone else her husband was cheating on her.
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