Murder trial beginning today of woman for her part in ex-husband's stabbing death

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

By Erin Quinn

Tribune-Herald staff writer

A Coryell County jury of 10 women and two men will hear testimony beginning today in the capital murder trial of Megan Lewis-Grant, a 44-year-old Gatesville woman accused of helping her son and a man kill her ex-husband.

The jury was selected Monday after 52nd State District Judge Phillip Zeigler denied a defense motion for a change of venue in a short hearing, a court spokeswoman said.

Testimony will begin at 9 a.m. today.

On Nov. 12, a visiting judge ruled that Zeigler does not hold a bias against Lewis-Grant, as charged by the defense. The woman’s Waco-based attorney, Russ Hunt Sr., said his client 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 Grant’s September 2007 stabbing death. She has been held in the Coryell County jail on $600,000 bond.

James Michael Grant Jr., the former couple’s 16-year-old son, 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.

John Tarrell Hopkins, 27, also pleaded guilty to capital murder in the elder Grant’s death. He was sentenced to life in prison, the court spokeswoman said, and is expected to testify for the prosecution in Lewis-Grant’s trial. Authorities have not released the nature of Hopkins’ relationship to the elder Grant, his son and ex-wife.

According to arrest documents, the killing happened after the teenage Grant called Hopkins to his home on Rocky Road in Gatesville after his father had fallen asleep.

As the younger 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 is accused of burning the men’s bloody clothing, stuffing them into garbage bags and throwing them away in two locations, the documents state.

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

equinn@wacotrib.com

757-5748

Comments

By seriously

Dec 3, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this

wow fred
way to be sensitive to the people who are affected by this murder.
i'm really sick of people gossiping about this like it is entertainment
there are family members and friends of the grants who are having a hard time trying to get through all of this
then there are people on the internet who think they use this trial as a form of entertainment
and talk about the events like it is from CSI.
lets all try to be a little more sensitive
since this actually affect real people's lives

By Fred Makes Me Laugh

Dec 2, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this

Um, Fred, have you not been reading the news? Did you not even read this story? It didn't happen in "Slaughterhouse Waco," but about 40 miles away in Prisonville, oops, I mean Gatesville.

By SMD

Dec 2, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this

Leave Fred alone. He is fantastic. His point of view, though a bit unpolished, is RIGHT ON THE MONEY. Sucks to hear the truth. Doesn't anyone find it ironic the man said a prayer before stabbing another human being? Whoever Fred is, whoever he works for -- I love his insight and I LOVE the S storm left in the wake of his last post.

By Fred's Mother

Dec 2, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this

Again I must plead that people stop blaming my little Freddy for the way he is. Not only did I work at the lead smelting plant right up until the day he was born, I accidentally dropped him on his head a few times when he was a baby. I tried to be a good mother, but times were tough back then. Little Freddy is having a hard time trying to stop sucking his thumb and bedwetting.

By Hahaha

Dec 2, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

This place is a riot!!!!! Why can't Waco get any stand-up comedy shows as good as the trib's comments sections?

By Something to do...

Dec 2, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

concerned - that posting was an indirect response to Fred in responding to people that respond to him. Go find something to do. That is all...

By concerned

Dec 2, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

anyone that responds to ''fred'' must be losely involved with nothing to do!

By Fred's Counselor

Dec 2, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Fred???? I'm going to have to hose you down at your next session. You've been creating too much of a stir around here. The attendants have been instructed to pursue you with straight-jackets if necessary. You will be there, Fred! That's a guarantee. But everything will be alright. I promise.

By Judge

Dec 2, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

I think Fred is great! He keeps it going

By Kerry

Dec 2, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

A co-worker & I have pretty much figured that "Fred" is someone (or more than one someone) who works for the Trib. That or someone with absolutely no life whatsoever. He's able to post too many comments on almost every single story and blog on this site. Just someone to stir up controversy, because everything he posts is negative. We would all be better off to just ignore his posts.

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