Emotional Day In Firefighter Death Trial As Defense Begins

BONNIE MEIBERS

Miami University journalism student

Emotions ran high as the defense called its first witness Wednesday in the arson-murder case against a 67-year-old man and his 50-year-old nephew in the 2015 fire that killed a Hamilton firefighter.

The prosecution rested after five days of testimony in the trial of Lester Parker and William "Billy" Tucker, who are each charged with aggravated arson and murder in the death of Hamilton Firefighter Patrick Wolterman, 28.

Prosecutors stitched together circumstantial evidence alleging that Parker, who was in trouble financially, and Tucker came up with the idea to set Parker's Pater Avenue home on fire so Paker could collect insurance money. Tucker, who is alleged to have set the fire on Dec. 28, 2015, was to be paid in pain pills, prosecutors told the jury of five women and seven men.

Kim Brooks, Tucker's former girlfriend, was called by his defense attorney and testified that she was with him the night of the fire in Hamilton. And contradictoring earlier testimony, Brooks testified that she did not see him with a gas can nor a bag before or after the blaze.

Butler County prosecutor Michael Gmoser and Brooks had a heated exchange during some of her testimony about what happened the wee hours of the morning Dec. 28.

“You’re upsetting me,” Brooks said to Gmoser, clutching a tissue to her face.

Butler County Common Pleas Judge Greg Stephens told Brooks three times to keep her comments to a minimum, answering questions only.

Brooks said she, a friend of her cousin’s, Courtney Basinger, her cousin’s child and Basinger’s two small children drove to Richmond, Kentucky to get Tucker and bring him to Hamilton on Dec. 27.

“He said he was there to pick up pills,” Brooks said. “I thought we was going to get back together.”

After dropping the children off at her cousin’s apartment around midnight, Brooks said she, Basinger and Tucker drove to get the pills.

The three drove until Tucker asked Basinger to pull over on Grand Boulevard “facing the hill.”

Tucker got out of the car and returned 15 to 20 minutes later with nothing in his hand but the pills. Basinger previously testified Tucker returned with a gas can in his hand.

“He didn’t want us to be in front of the house,” Brooks said.

“Exactly!” Gmoser said, raising his voice. “You’re the one who got the guy who burned down the house. It’s important that you know nothing.”

From there, Brooks said all three returned to her cousin’s house. She and Tucker took a walk around 1 a.m. and then later slept in the same bed.

Tamara Sack, Tucker's lawyer, asked Brooks if she remembered him smelling like smoke or gasoline. Brooks said, “no.”

Gmoser showed Brooks a video from her interview with Hamilton Sgt. Matt Fishwick, in which she stated that after picking up Tucker, they went straight to her cousin’s place.

Then Tucker left and wouldn’t tell Brooks where he was going.

“I didn’t know nothing,” Brooks said. “I had nothing to do with it.”

David Washington, Parker's lawyer, asked Brooks if she was trying to protect Tucker.

“I don’t want nothing to do with him,” she said, her voice trembling.

The trial continues Monday at noon, when Tucker is expected to testify. It was not clear if Parker would also take the stand.

-- Top photo: Butler County prosecutor Michael Gmoser and witness, Kim Brooks, got into a heated exchange during the seventh day of trial. Photo by Bonnie Meibers.