Saturday, August 30, 2008
By Tommy Witherspoon
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Four current or former death row inmates testified Friday that Billie Wayne Coble is a generous, well-liked fellow prisoner who organizes prison sporting tournaments and helps other killers try to get their death sentences thrown out.
Coble’s attorneys are trying to spare the 59-year-old former welder from a return trip to death row and a date with the executioner by convincing jurors in his capital murder punishment retrial that he has been a model prisoner, is no longer violent and should receive a life prison term instead.
Coble’s punishment for shooting and killing his estranged wife’s parents, Robert and Zelda Vicha, and her brother, Waco police Sgt. Bobby Vicha, in August 1989 is being determined again by a 54th State District Court jury because his death sentence was overturned by a federal appeals court. The court let his conviction stand.
The New Orleans-based appeals court determined that Coble’s jury 18 years ago was unable to adequately consider whether mitigating factors, such as his being raised at the Corsicana State Home or his Marine service in Vietnam, would make a life prison term more appropriate than a death sentence.
Before defense testimony began Friday morning, defense attorneys Russ Hunt Jr. and Alex Calhoun objected that Coble’s four death-row character witnesses would have to testify in prison garb and with shackles on their wrists and ankles.
Judge Matt Johnson overruled their objection, deferring to sheriff’s office guidelines about transferring dangerous prisoners who may not have anything to lose by resorting to violence to try to escape.
Martin Draughon, a 44-year-old former death row inmate now serving 40 years for murder and 39 years for sexual assault, told jurors that he met Coble while serving a death sentence in 1992.
He said his death sentence was overturned and he pleaded guilty to murder.
“Bill is well-liked by everyone (on death row), even the bad guys who are going to make a spear and reach out and stab you,” Draughon said. “He can deal with everyone and is always even-keeled. He doesn’t lose his cool.”
Antonio Barrientes, whose death sentence also was overturned, is serving a life sentence for murder. He and death row inmates Mariano Rosales, 69, and Bernardo Teracero all testified that Coble is generous with his commissary items with those who can’t afford any, helps people with their appeals and teaches English to some who don’t speak it or read it very well.
“To anyone who needs it, he is always willing to help,” Teracero said.
In other testimony Friday, Don Youngblood, a private investigator working for the defense, assembled a 45-minute videotape compiled from six hours of Defense Department footage that shows four battles or campaigns in Vietnam that Coble’s Marine unit was involved in.
Coble was in Vietnam from December 1966 to October 1967. At one point in the film, Youngblood showed jurors a young Marine he identified as Coble walking by a tank.
Defense testimony will resume Tuesday morning. Coble’s fate could be in jurors’ hands by Wednesday or Thursday, court officials said.
twitherspoon@wacotrib.com
757-5737
Comments
By Can see both sides
Sep 7, 2008 1:10 AM | Link to this
You are a bunch of blood thirsty monsters yourselves, who are you to judge ? Why dont we run a police report on some of you and see which pot is calling the kettle black?
By null
Aug 31, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
All of you are so blood thristy, I am afraid to walk amoung in Waco. Forget Bill for one second and think about where is all that evil INSIDE yourselves going ? Bill has too much control of you right now.
By null
Aug 31, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this
This is a prime example of exactly why our society is in major trouble! Giving more sympathy to a killer than his victims. Personally, I am sick of it.
By CWB
Aug 30, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this
Former death row inmates as character references? Good grief! I thought it was an automatic capital offense to kill a police officer - or is that only if it's in the line of duty? This man should never breathe free air again. He's already bilked taxpayers out of millions of dollars during his trials and incarceration. WHAT he did is not in question. It disgusts me that his punishment has not already been handed down and that he's now going to cost us even more. The family he destroyed didn't get a second chance, why should he?
By Where
Aug 30, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
I am curious to know where Coble got the money to hire an attorney and who cares enough about him to send him commissary money? I really didn't get the feel that he since he was sent to a home so young that he had any family that cared enough to make sure he got commissary. This whole trial is a travesty and makes me think our judical system needs some changes.
By LSS
Aug 30, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Billy wayne coble is a Rapist, Wife beater, control monster and a cold blooded murderer!Since he is such an outstanding Death Row prisoner, he needs to stay there!If he ever gets out he will kill again! why isint any of the gaurds testifying? the lawyers r calling the same kind of monsters to defend him!! how funny and desperate is that? Alex Calhoun and Russ Hunt Jr. should be ashamed,do they really think that his prison friends are a good choice to speak on billy wayne behalf? That is the funniest thing i have ever heard of!Billy Wayne Coble is an evil monster,He needs to be put into his final resting place so that the Vicha family can have justice and peace!
By katfish1
Aug 30, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
i agree with the rest of the people we spend way to much money on these monsters-i think the death pentaly should be carried out within a month of sentenceing, for all the killers.
By go
Aug 30, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Yeah!! Former death row inmates as credible witnesses. I can not believe this! All the other people that testified on how evil this man is and the defense thinks the words of a few criminals can save him!! Did the dirtbag himself ever get on the stand? Did he ever say how sorry he is for what he did? I haven't read that he did. Kill him now and not waste another tax payer penny!!
By Waco Native
Aug 30, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
The high opinions of evil killers of Billy Wayne Coble--a killer of three people and a cruel evil man--tell you he is just like them. Put this mad dog to death. His evil bubbles just under the surface and would be shown to all if--in his mind--he is provoked. He does not deserve to live. Give us all some closure and kill him as soon as possible. Many, many human beings have endured horrific circumstances in life and did not become a killer. There is no excuse for his actions of slaying in cold-blooded murder three other human beings.
By qw
Aug 30, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
The in-depth study by the expert witness concluded Coble will most likely commit violence again when things don't go his way. Wouldn't the evil grin/s he gave Karen while she was testifying confirm that fact???...took evilness to do. All of this is so unfair/absolutely awful for the victims' children and families. It is also so unfair/unjust for the taxpayers...I'd like to know the dollar amount spent on this man's case, particularly his stay in prison for 18+ years,the appeals process and new trial. Frightening to think how much that $ amount is!!!
[1 2] next
Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F, except on Tuesday when it's open until 9 p.m.
Post a comment
*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.