The murder trial of Eric Campbell continues Friday at a courtroom in Granville County, North Carolina.
This 23-year-old joined his father Edward Campbell on a multi-state crime spree from Texas to West Virginia, prosecutors said. It culminated on Dec. 31, 2014, when these two allegedly stabbed to death Granville locals Jerome Faulkner, 73, Dora Faulkner, 62, and the couple’s dogs; burned the house down; and brought the human victims’ bodies along in a stolen truck.
The son faces these accusations alone—The elder Campbell killed himself in March, 2015, while locked up as a pre-trial inmate at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The defense began their case on Thursday. They are trying to argue that although Eric was present for the crime spree, their client wasn’t culpable: He thought the Faulkners were only going to get robbed, not murdered; and he was too afraid to stop his father Edward, a long-time abuser.
The defendant Eric Campbell took the stand on Thursday. He said his father Edward was abusive, and regularly beat their family dog Gecko with a two-by-four. The elder Campbell allegedly shot strays, and laid out poisoned food for the canines. Ducks were also used for “target shooting,” Eric said.
“It didn’t seem to bother him,” Eric said about his father’s attitude while hurting animals.
The defendant said Edward Campbell made and gave him meth: “To him, it was no fun doing it alone.”
Prosecutors wrapped up their case on Wednesday.
Eric Campbell, who faces two counts first-degree murder, could get the death penalty if convicted. He has also been charged with first-degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree arson, and two counts of cruelty to animals.
[Screengrab via LawNewz Network]
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