Sean C. Morgan
Deputy District Attorney Reed Dinsmore told Judge Rick McCormick that the state would not seek the death penalty against the man accused of killing a Sweet Home woman last year.
Larry Benjamin Williams, accused of murdering local horse trainer Michele Hawkins, appeared in a pre-trial hearing with Judge Rick McCormick on Friday.
Dinsmore said he sent a letter on March 29 to Williams’ attorney seeking a settlement conference and that the state would not seek the death penalty.
Williams’ attorney, Gerald Petersen agreed to a settlement conference at 10 a.m. on June 18. Attorneys will meet in the off-the-record session to discuss possible settlement outside of going to trial. The date may change due to potential scheduling conflicts.
If unable to settle the case, then the court will set trial dates, probably over two weeks.
Williams was charged with murder and aggravated murder after allegedly shooting Mrs. Hawkins on Oct. 6. His brother and he drove to Lebanon Police Department where Williams turned himself in.
Williams had been staying with the Hawkins family, working for them in exchange for a place to live in a loft apartment above a barn.
Williams and Mrs. Hawkins apparently had an argument where he demanded some $75,000 for his work over the course of five years. Williams also was planning to leave, and Mrs. Hawkins wanted him to sign an agreement that he would not return if he was gone for more than 30 days.
Williams allegedly went up to his apartment, got a gun then returned to the Hawkins home and shot Mrs. Hawkins. His brother was asleep in the guest room, and though he heard some noise, did not realize what it was.
Hawkins’ husband, Dean Hawkins, was at the hearing along with several friends of the family.
“We’re doing fine,” Mr. Hawkins said. “We’re all maintaining. If it weren’t for these people here (gesturing to his friends in the courtroom).”
The group is still working with the horses, training them for shows, including one coming up in May.
Mr. Hawkins said the district attorney is pursuing sentences of life in prison without parole or life with parole in 30 years.
“I had mixed feelings when I learned about it,” Mr. Hawkins said, but Williams still “will rot” with a life sentence.