The preliminary hearings for Eric and Kim Williams lasted less than 30 minutes on Friday morning, July 26, 2013, at the Kaufman County south campus courtroom.
The hearings were the first time the Williamses have stepped foot in a courtroom since their indictments on June 27, 2013, for the capital murders of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse and Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia earlier this year.
Eric Williams and Kim Williams both appeared in court with blank hollow stares – Eric wearing a business suit and Kim in a white and black stripped shirt with her hair pulled in a ponytail. Ironically, the hearing was held in the same building Eric Williams served as the Kaufman County Justice of the Peace before being charged with the theft of three county owned computers, a case that was prosecuted by Hasse and McLelland. Prosecutors believe this case to be the motivation behind the alleged revenge-driven killings.
Prosecutors announced they would be seeking the death penalty for Eric Williams and they are undecided on whether or not to seek the death penalty for Kim Williams for her involvment.
Visiting Dallas County Judge Snipes announced he hopes to select a “fair and impartial” jury in Kaufman County by the spring of 2014 with a trial in October 2014. Defense attorneys for both parties had “no objections at this time” concerning the Kaufman County venue of the trial. "We'll see how jury selection goes, that will be critical in my decision making process," said Judge Snipes.
In an interview with authorities after Eric Williams was arrested on terroristic threat charges, Kim confessed to her role in the killings as being the driver for her husband, who was the shooter, she said.