[Deathpenalty]death penalty news --- TENN.

[Joerg Sommer]

death penalty news

July 22, 2004


TENNESSEE:

State to seek death penalty in Elliott case
	
The state has decided to seek the death penalty against a Franklin County 
resident accused of killing his ex-wife and daughter and shooting his son. 	
Parker Ray Elliott was indicted by the Maury County Grand Jury Tuesday. He 
was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and one count each of 
felony murder, attempted first-degree murder and especially aggravated 
burglary, according to court records.

Elliott is accused of going to the home of his ex-wife Freda in Culleoka on 
June 24 and firing a .22-caliber handgun. Elliott's 18-year-old daughter 
Rachel was killed and his 15-year-old son Seth was wounded. And the former 
Mrs. Elliott died two days after the incident.

According to District Attorney General Mike Bottoms, Elliott was living in 
Belvidere with his mother at the time of the incident. Elliott was arrested 
June 28 after a wide-scale manhunt by officials from several counties.

Maury County General Sessions Judge Lee Bailey entered an automatic "not 
guilty" plea on Elliott's behalf during a court appearance July 2. A trial 
date has not been set. District Public Defender Claudia Jack is 
representing Elliott, and has indicated she may seek a change of venue for 
the trial because of substantial media coverage.

"Each murder case has its individual characteristics," Bottoms said 
regarding his decision to seek the death penalty. "You have to look at the 
aggravating circumstances, the facts about the individual.

"These things take a while and I'm sure this will too," added Bottoms, who 
has tried a number of trials involving the death penalty. He predicted many 
pre-trial motions before the actual trial started. He added that the 
possibility of a death sentence also allows the possibility of life with 
parole or life without parole, but it will be to a jury to decide, he added.

(source: Tullahoma News)