Jury deliberating in Billy Joel Tracy capital murder case

The state of Texas will seek the death penalty against Billy Joel Tracy for capital murder. Bowie County District Attorney Jerry Rochelle made the announcement Friday, Jan. 6, 2016, at Tracy's arraignment hearing.
The state of Texas will seek the death penalty against Billy Joel Tracy for capital murder. Bowie County District Attorney Jerry Rochelle made the announcement Friday, Jan. 6, 2016, at Tracy's arraignment hearing.

NEW BOSTON, Texas-The Bowie County jury tasked with deciding if inmate Billy Joel Tracy is guilty of capital murder in the July 2015 beating death of a Barry Telford Unit correctional officer is currently deliberating.

Tracy, 39, is accused of attacking Correctional Officer Timothy Davison during a routine walk back to cell 66 after an hour in a prison dayroom July 15, 2015. Tracy is accused of beating Davison, 47, in the head and face with a metal tray slot bar after defeating his handcuffs.

Texarkana defense lawyer Jeff Harrelson argued that Tracy only meant to assault Davison and that he regrets the officer's death. Assistant District Attorneys Kelley Crisp and Lauren Richards argued that Davison is a cold and calculating murderer who has been planning to assassinate one of his keepers since being sentenced to life in prison in 1998.

Deliberations began at approximately 10 a.m. at the Bowie County courthouse in New Boston.

Continue to visit texarkanagazette.com and our Facebook page for updates on the trial. Read Saturday's print and online editions for full coverage of the trial.

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