Multiple witnesses called in first day of Bethel Street murder trial

Trial began Monday in Christian Circuit Court for Shakkory Willis, the man accused in the January, 2019 shooting death of Corvyan Thomas on Short Bethel Street.

Opening statements from Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling and public defender Eric Bearden kicked trial off, with Boling describing the alleged plan for a robbery that was set to take place the night of the shooting. He describes it as a robbery gone wrong, as once the two juvenile females were inside, they found nothing worth taking like they had been told there would be—Boling insists that Willis was the one who confronted Thomas and assaulted him for more information, and that’s when the fatal shooting occurred.

Defense attorney Eric Bearden argues that Willis was the ‘outsider’ in this group of friends, so that’s why he’s getting the blame—and he insists that Willis did not shoot or kill anyone.

Multiple witnesses were called during day one of the trial, including co-defendants Tia Ochs and Madison Wilson—Ochs says they had been hanging out with Thomas and Dylan Stewart for about an hour when Willis and others reportedly entered the home.

James Yates, who had agreed to testify at trial as part of his plea deal, told the court that he couldn’t remember what happened the night of the robbery except that he ‘beat up’ Stewart.

Trial is set to continue Tuesday morning. Willis is charged with murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery and unlawful transaction with a minor. Willis is accused of shooting Thomas and Stewart, who lived with Thomas at the time, was also shot in the leg during the incident.

Willis’ co-defendants—Korey Zivotin, Yates, Lane Carter, Ochs and Wilson—have all accepted plea deals for their roles in the incident. Zivotin, who is 16-years old, must serve at least 85 percent of a 15-year sentence for shooting Stewart.