Thursday, May 15, 2008

Alabama Judge Denies Request Of Iron City Murder Suspect

   A request submitted by defense attorneys representing a Lawrence County man in a capitol murder case was denied by an Alabama judge Wednesday.

   Attorneys for William David Nard, 48, of Iron City, had submitted the request for consideration by Lauderdale Circuit Court Judge Mike Jones.

   In April indictments were returned against Nard and his son Greg Leon Nard, 26, on one count apiece of capital murder, and against Norman Earnest Widdowson, 43, on one count of murder.

   The charges were issued as the result of the January 27, 2007, death of James Gregory Wright, 42. Wright’s body was found inside his home on Lauderdale County Road 130, Greehnill. At that time, officials reported he had been beaten and stabbed. The Iron City men were subsequently arrested on February 2.

   Prosecutors in the case alleged that the murder occurred during the commission of another felony. Shortly after Wright’s death, authorities alleged the three had gone to his home to collect $70.00 he owed one of the defendants.

   Since his arrest the elder Nard has been incarcerated at the Franklin County Detention Center in Russellville. Defense Attorney Dane Perry had requested that Nard be transferred to the Lauderdale County Detention Center “to make it easier for him to meet with his client and prepare him for trial.”

   In accordance with standard policy, all three defendants are being housed at different jails. When there are multiple defendants in a murder case, authorities said, it is policy to house them in different jails in order to prevent them from discussing the case.

    Because they are charged with the crime of capitol murder, both Nards face either life imprisonment or the death penalty. They were indicted on the charge due to the fact that investigators allege they were robbing Wright when he was killed.

   Widdowson was indicted on one count of murder. Authorities indicate they do not believe Widdowson participated in the robbery. He faces up to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

   The younger Nard and Widdowson are being housed at the Walker County Jail in Jasper, and Lauderdale County Detention Center, respectively.

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