Trial began Monday in the case of Dorien Meullion, who is charged with murder in the 2016 shooting death of Tarone Williams on East Ninth Street.
A jury was seated in the morning and opening statements took place in the afternoon, starting with Commonwealth’s Attorney Lynn Pryor. Pryor detailed some the evidence that would be heard a trial, including eyewitness accounts from the shooting scene at the East Ninth Street Marathon gas station and from a shooting scene that had occurred on East Third Street earlier in the day, on October 15, 2016. That first shooting is alleged to also have involved Meullion and Williams, but Williams was able to get away unharmed before being later shot at the gas station.
She says they will see video surveillance from the gas station, that shows someone approach Williams from behind and shoot him multiple times in the back.
Following the fatal shooting at the gas station, Williams was able to briefly drive away before crashing into another vehicle near Whistle Stop Donuts. He would die of his injuries. Meullion was arrested the following day in Clarksville on strength of a warrant and charged with murder.
Defense attorney Clay Beineke represents Meullion and advised the jury to stay skeptical of the evidence presented to them, because much of it conflicts and he’s confident that they will find his client not guilty.
The jury also began hearing from witnesses in the afternoon and the trial is expected to last a week.