By Erin Quinn

Tribune-Herald staff writer

A senior state district judge Wednesday decided Coryell County’s 52nd State District Judge Phillip Zeigler does not hold a bias, as charged by the defendant in a capital murder trial expected to begin next month.

Waco defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. had filed a motion asking Zeigler to recuse himself from hearing the case. Hunt said his client, 44-year-old Leslie Megan Lewis-Grant, felt Zeigler was too close to the family of her ex-husband, 44-year-old James Michael Grant Sr.

Lewis-Grant is charged with capital murder and retaliation in what police have said was her part in her ex-husband’s September 2007 stabbing death. She remained in the Coryell County jail Wednesday, held in lieu of $600,000 bond.

Retired State District Judge James Clawson of Bell County heard the evidence and denied the motion. Clawson was appointed to preside over Wednesday’s pretrial hearing by Judge B.B. Schraub of Seguin, who is the administrative judge for the region that includes Coryell County.

Coryell County District Attorney David Castillo declined comment on the hearing. Trial is set for Dec. 1.

The former couple’s 16-year-old son, James Michael Grant Jr., was sentenced in September to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder. He was certified in March to stand trial as an adult.

According to arrest documents, the younger Grant called 27-year-old John Tarrell Hopkins to his Gatesville home after his father had fallen asleep.

Hopkins came to the teen’s house on Rocky Road and went into his father’s bedroom. As the teenage Grant waited in the hallway, Hopkins stole a 9 mm handgun and cash from the elder Grant’s wallet, said a prayer and stabbed him in his sleep, arrest documents stated.

According to the documents, the younger Grant came into the room and stomped on his father’s chest before the two loaded Grant’s body into the back of a white Chevrolet truck. Lewis-Grant took the men’s bloody clothing and burned them, later stuffing them into garbage bags thrown away in two different locations, the documents state.

The elder Grant’s body was found Sept. 15, 2007, on the side of a county road.

Gatesville police have not released a motive for the slaying.

Hopkins, who was being held in the Coryell County Jail on Wednesday on $1.05 million bond on capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges, also is set to stand trial Dec. 1. Castillo said Wednesday, however, that he did not believe both trials would be held the same week.

equinn@wacotrib.com

757-5748