SC man guilty in deaths of wife, gambling partner
COLUMBIA — A Richland County jury has convicted a Columbia man accused of killing his wife and business partner.
The jury deliberated for three hours Tuesday before returning a guilty verdict in the trial of Brett Parker.
Prosecutors say Parker killed his wife, Tammy, in April 2012 and tried to frame it on business partner Bryan Capnerhurst. The two men were said to have been involved in an illegal gambling ring.
Parker testified last week that Capnerhurst came into his home and killed his wife, then demanded money from Parker’s safe. Parker says he got a gun from on top of the safe and killed Capnerhurst.
In closing arguments, prosecutors painted Brett Parker as a cold-blooded killer who bet that police wouldn’t be able to unravel the crime scene he staged.
“He bet wrong,” prosecutor Luck Campbell said.
Parker’s lawyers said investigators immediately became transfixed by Parker’s illegal gambling ring and made sure they only cared about evidence that might link him to the crime. He said Richland County deputies panicked after three months passed and people became restless because there were no arrests.
“Because of the pressure and the publicity they had to indict the person they indicted,” defense attorney Dave Fedor said.
Parker’s wife, Tammy, and his business partner Bryan Capnerhurst were found dead in the Parkers’ home in April 2012. Brett Parker told investigators that Capnerhurst came into his house looking for money, killing his wife, then holding him at gunpoint. Parker said he was able to get a loaded gun he kept on top of a safe and shoot Capnerhurst.
Prosecutors said Parker staged much of that scene, shooting his wife before Capnerhurst arrived, then getting a second gun to kill Capnerhurst, putting the weapon used to kill his wife in Capnerhurst’s hand.
To poke holes in Parker’s version, Campbell pointed out in her closing argument that gunshot residue was found in the blinds of Parker’s home, likely ending up there after Parker killed his wife and peeked out to see when Capnerhurst would arrive.
Campbell also pointed out one of several shots that hit Capnerhurst left a golf ball size hole in his arm. A medical examiner testified the wound would have caused Capnerhurst to let go of anything in his hand.
“Their defense is Brett Parker is too stupid to have committed these murders. And ladies and gentlemen for that final defense I agree with one thing — he’s too stupid to get away with it,” Campbell said.
Parker himself testified, denying he killed his wife. Parker’s 14-year-old daughter also testified that she saw her father give Capnerhurst a gun similar to the one found in his hand the day he died.
Prosecutors called several friends of Capnerhurst to testify and say he didn’t like guns and never owned a weapon.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2013-05-28/sc-man-guilty-deaths-wife-gambling-partner
Prosecutors say Parker killed his wife, Tammy, in April 2012 and tried to frame it on business partner Bryan Capnerhurst. The two men were said to have been involved in an illegal gambling ring.
Parker testified last week that Capnerhurst came into his home and killed his wife, then demanded money from Parker’s safe. Parker says he got a gun from on top of the safe and killed Capnerhurst.
In closing arguments, prosecutors painted Brett Parker as a cold-blooded killer who bet that police wouldn’t be able to unravel the crime scene he staged.
“He bet wrong,” prosecutor Luck Campbell said.
Parker’s lawyers said investigators immediately became transfixed by Parker’s illegal gambling ring and made sure they only cared about evidence that might link him to the crime. He said Richland County deputies panicked after three months passed and people became restless because there were no arrests.
“Because of the pressure and the publicity they had to indict the person they indicted,” defense attorney Dave Fedor said.
Parker’s wife, Tammy, and his business partner Bryan Capnerhurst were found dead in the Parkers’ home in April 2012. Brett Parker told investigators that Capnerhurst came into his house looking for money, killing his wife, then holding him at gunpoint. Parker said he was able to get a loaded gun he kept on top of a safe and shoot Capnerhurst.
Prosecutors said Parker staged much of that scene, shooting his wife before Capnerhurst arrived, then getting a second gun to kill Capnerhurst, putting the weapon used to kill his wife in Capnerhurst’s hand.
To poke holes in Parker’s version, Campbell pointed out in her closing argument that gunshot residue was found in the blinds of Parker’s home, likely ending up there after Parker killed his wife and peeked out to see when Capnerhurst would arrive.
Campbell also pointed out one of several shots that hit Capnerhurst left a golf ball size hole in his arm. A medical examiner testified the wound would have caused Capnerhurst to let go of anything in his hand.
“Their defense is Brett Parker is too stupid to have committed these murders. And ladies and gentlemen for that final defense I agree with one thing — he’s too stupid to get away with it,” Campbell said.
Parker himself testified, denying he killed his wife. Parker’s 14-year-old daughter also testified that she saw her father give Capnerhurst a gun similar to the one found in his hand the day he died.
Prosecutors called several friends of Capnerhurst to testify and say he didn’t like guns and never owned a weapon.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2013-05-28/sc-man-guilty-deaths-wife-gambling-partner
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