By Meghan McCormick
The Norman Transcript
Norman — A Cleveland County jury recommended Friday evening that 52-year-old William Eugene Davis pay with his life for the Sept. 4, 2007, shotgun slayings of his two sisters and another woman.
The 12-member panel deliberated less than 45 minutes to reach agreement on the death sentence. District Judge Lori Walkley read the jury’s recommendation aloud just after 5:30 p.m.
Davis lacked emotion as he sat in his chair next to his attorney Lynn Burch and learned his fate.
District Attorney Greg Mashburn asked jurors earlier in the day not to show Davis mercy for his crimes.
“Why would you show mercy to this guy?” Mashburn asked. “I’m asking you to give him what he has earned. He earned this punishment.”
Eight sheriff’s deputies were stationed in the courtroom as the decision came down with five of them standing in close proximity to Davis.
Wednesday, jurors convicted Davis on three counts of first-degree murder. Back on that September day, Davis grabbed a 12-gauge shot gun and opened fire on his sisters, Tami Link, 52, and Sheila Ellis, 56, as they sat at the kitchen table inside Link’s home at 1517 Oklahoma Ave. Davis then walked into a living area and gunned down Link’s mother-in-law, Letannah Bishop, 87.
Jurors also found Davis guilty of assault for threatening Link’s husband Joseph “Brent” Link. Jury members recommended a five-year prison sentence for that crime.
Davis had no comment as deputies led him out of the courtroom.
Brent Link’s family surrounded him as the group left the courtroom. He said the jury came back with the appropriate decision.
“It’s been hard on the family and a lot of people,” he said. “William Eugene Davis will never breathe another breath of fresh air again. He’s an evil man. He’s right where he needs to be.”
Brent Link thanked jurors for their civic duty.
“The jury had to see horrible evidence,” he said.
Now that the trial is over, Brent Link said he and his family are ready to rebuild their lives.
“We are just ready to relax, rebuild relationships and move on,” he said.
Ellis’ daughter, Julie Cope said she was thankful Davis received the punishment that she and several members of her family requested.
“There are no winners, only losers. I hate it that our family had to go through this. We can now move forward,” Cope said.
Davis’ only living sister, Betty Zumwalt said her family has suffered another loss. In addition to her sisters, their mother, Betty Clark, died in March 2009.
“I’ve lost all my sisters, my brother and my mother,” she said.
District Attorney Greg Mashburn and Assistant District Attorney Christy Miller said losing Link, Ellis and Bishop was a tragedy.
“It’s a tremendous loss for any community. To have that blood shed certainly compounds the tragedy,” Mashburn said.
Burch and Craig Corgan contended throughout the two-week trial that Davis, an alcoholic, suffered an alcohol-related blackout and doesn’t remember the events that happened at his sister’s home on the day of the killings.
Both defense attorneys tried to convince jury members that Davis, who also suffers from mental problems, should not be executed.
“Mr. Davis is sick, but he’s not an animal. He’s a human being,” Burch said. “He didn’t choose to be bipolar.”
Burch said Davis didn’t present a problem to the jail population.
“Sober, incarcerated, medicated, William Davis isn’t going to hurt anybody,” Burch said.
Corgan urged jurors to have mercy on his client.
“We all agree every crime is horrible. I’ve been doing this 30 years and I haven’t seen a pretty crime yet. If you focus on the crime, how do you decide on the punishment?” Corgan asked the jury.
Corgan said the punishment should fit the defendant.
“I submit to you the punishment that fits Mr. Davis is life without parole,” Corgan said.
During her closing arguments, Miller said evidence showed that all three deaths were heinous, atrocious and cruel. Bishop pleaded for her life.
“She knew she was fixing to be shot and she begged for her life,” Miller said.
Miller reminded jurors that Davis’ brothers testified Thursday that Davis was a violent and dangerous person.
“I think the evidence shows you he is a threat to society,” Miller said.
Davis will remain jailed at the Cleveland County Detention Center. Walkley scheduled his formal sentencing for March 26.
Meghan McCormick366-3539mmccormick@normantranscript.com
