Transcript Staff Writer
A preliminary hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. today for a Norman man accused of a triple slaying Sept. 4.
William "Billy" Davis, 50, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of sisters Tami Link and Sheila Ellis and Link's mother-in-law, Letannah Bishop.
Davis additionally has been charged with assault with intent to kill stemming from an alleged attempted assault on Brent Link, a blind Vietnam veteran.
Davis is accused of using a .12 gauge shotgun to kill Link's wife, Tami, 52, Link's mother, Letannah Bishop, 87, and his sister-in-law, Sheila Ellis, 56. The slayings were at Brent and Tami Link's residence at 1517 Oklahoma Ave.
According to court documents, Davis was apparently trying to reload his shotgun and threatening to kill Brent Link, when Link took "a wild swing" at Davis, making contact and knocking Davis to the ground.
Link beat Davis with his fists, then took away the shotgun and struck Davis with it until he was unconscious, police said.
Davis is being held without bond in the Cleveland County Detention Center.
District Attorney Greg Mashburn has filed the bill of particulars, to notify the defense he will seek the death penalty if Davis is convicted.
With the filing of the bill of particulars, Oklahoma Indigent Defense System capital trial division attorney Craig D. Corgan was assigned to the case.
The preliminary hearing will be conducted in the courtroom of Special Judge Reginald D. Gaston. Prosecutors informed potential witnesses the preliminary hearing would take an estimated five hours.
At a preliminary hearing the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to force the defendant to stand trial. In making this determination, the judge uses the "probable cause" legal standard, deciding whether prosecutors have produced enough evidence to convince a reasonable jury that the defendant committed the crimes charged.
Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com
