NEW BOSTON, Texas -- The alleged shooter in a drug-related robbery that left one man dead in December 2020 is on trial for capital murder this week in Bowie County.
Kristopher "Flip" Wilson, 26, is accused in the Dec. 27, 2020, death of Chase Porier. Wilson is the first of two men charged in the case to face a jury. Brandon Parkman, 19, is set for trial in June.
A jury was chosen to decide the case Tuesday morning and testimony began Tuesday afternoon.
Dewayne Terry testified under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Bradley Akins that Porier was his best friend and that the two men were in the business of selling THC cartridges, known on the street as "carts," from Porier's home. Terry said he was driving a road near Porier's home, on his way to visit, when a "cobalt blue" car with an unmatching black rear bumper pulled in front of him. Terry said he did not know that the blue car in front of him was also headed to Porier's.
Terry testified that he ran into Porier's trailer on Forest Circle near the Liberty-Eylau area of Bowie County to let him know two men were out front and that Porier "waved" them inside. Terry said the men were discussing prices for the "product" as Wilson was squatted down, looking at the cartridges. Terry said Wilson stood up, made a "half turn," pulled a gun and shot Porier in the center of his neck.
Terry testified that both of the men in the house were armed but that the only one to fire was Wilson.
"I was sitting there holding my best friend trying to keep him from bleeding out," Terry said.
Terry testified he is "100%" confident that Wilson is the person who shot Porier and that he has no explanation for why Porier was shot and he was not.
Under cross-examination by Texarkana lawyer Derric McFarland, Terry agreed that the lighting in the house was dim, as seen on a police officer's body camera played for the jury. But Terry was steadfast in his identification of Wilson and said he could see well enough to describe the color of his clothing though he was unable to describe the gun.
Terry testified that the men took some THC cartridges and both his and Wilson's cell phones. Terry sought the help of Porier's neighbor, Wayne Diebold, to summon help on his phone.
"He took his last breath while I was there," Diebold testified.
Diebold said it was about 7:30 p.m. when he saw two men "jump off the porch" and leave Porier's home. Diebold said he was on his front porch when Terry came running over while telling him "Chase had been shot."
Diebold called 911 and went to Porier's home.
The last witness to testify, Cameron Lindley, said he introduced Wilson to Porier a week or more before the shooting. Lindley said he was unable to go to Porier's home that night as planned and made arrangements for Wilson to go without him.
The jury was placed in an evening recess by 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison with instructions to return to court Wednesday morning.
The state is not seeking the death penalty. If found guilty of capital murder, Wilson faces an automatic sentence of life without parole.
KRISTOPHER "FLIP" WILSON