Sullivan, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – The shooting of 85-year-old retired farmer Lowell Badger was the end of a night “of bad decisions”. That was how Special Prosecutor Rob Roberts started his closing arguments in the murder trial of William Grimes.
Grimes, along with two co-defendants, faces charges in Badger’s death. Badger was found shot multiple times in his rural Sullivan County home back in December of 2012.
In a packed Sullivan County courtroom Wednesday morning, Robert walked the jury through witness testimony in this case.
He reminded the jury how multiple witnesses said Grimes told them he had not expected Badger to be home the night Badger was killed. Roberts also reminded jurors that multiple witnesses, from former jailmates to family and friends, said Grimes admitted to them he killed Badger.
Roberts said one witness even knew Badger was shot three times, although police had never publicly stated how many times Badger was shot.
Roberts pointed to the testimony of Richard Taft, who is also charged in this case. Taft said he, Grimes and Grimes’ brother Arthur went to Badger’s house to rob it of “pills and money” after getting high on meth. He said he saw Grimes shoot Badger.
Roberts asked the jury if they really thought all 19 of these witnesses could have worked together and formed a conspiracy against Grimes.
Meanwhile, the defense called Grimes “a man against the world” and said there is “reasonable doubt” in this case.
He reiterated to jurors there’s no DNA, no fingerprints, and no physical evidence linking Grimes to this case, and the murder weapon was never found.
He questioned whether witnesses were telling the truth because there were some inconsistencies.
The defense pointed out that there were other potential suspects police interviewed.
The jury began deliberations around 11:30 a.m.
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