Tell us what you think. Despite a stormy life filled with drunken joy riding and brawls, Shawn Allen Berry did not possess the racist leanings needed to chain a black man to a pickup and drag him to death, the defendant's friends testified Monday. James Byrd Jr. The other two men were convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in trials earlier this year. The defense is expected to wrap up its case Tuesday, ending with Mr. Berry taking the stand.
Prosecutors say they plan to bring in rebuttal witnesses.
The case could go to the jury as early as Wednesday. Together, they portrayed the former movie-theater manager as a caring individual who often picked up hitchhikers and even loaned money to customers at the theater if they were short on cash for a ticket. Members of Mr. Byrd's family, who have attended all three trials, said outside the courtroom that the testimony from black residents about Mr. Berry's lack of racist beliefs doesn't mean he didn't participate in the murder. It's a good thing they weren' t on that road June 7th. Under questioning from prosecutors, most of the 16 were also able to remember a time or two when Mr. Berry pulled a knife or used his hands to defend himself against bickering during parties.