The former Justice of the Peace, Eric Williams, 47, is to be sentenced for the murder of Cynthia McLelland. The only evidence in the case, however, is circumstantial and his lawyers claim he is innocent. He has, separately, been charged with the murder of two lawyers in the Kaufman County justice system - the District Attorney Mike McLelland (husband of Cynthia) and the chief assistant prosecutor Mark Hasse.

Serial killer speculation

Such was the concern about the killings that there was speculation that a serial killer was picking off members of the justice system. There had also been speculation last year linking in the murder of a nearby prisons superintendent to the same killer. Mr Williams was arrested after this speculation. Prosecutors gave as his possible motive the desire for revenge after he had been convicted of stealing computer equipment from a government building. He was prosecuted by the District Attorney and Mr Hasse. He afterwards lost his law licence and his job. Source: ABA