LONGVIEW, Texas — After the state rested its case for the punishment phase Wednesday, jurors heard from Gregory Newson's former brother-in-law and his son's mother about the kind of person he is.
Newson, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was convicted of capital murder for killing Panola County Deputy Chris Dickerson as he made a routine patrol in the small community of Gary in Panola County around 2 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2019. The state is seeking the death penalty.
Gary Gremillion, who worked for the Louisiana Department of Corrections in the 1990s, testified that he recalled Newson having chronic disciplinary problems when Newson was incarcerated for a 1993 armed robbery conviction. The state then rested its case for the punishment phase.
Kenneth Ray Smith, Newson's former brother-in-law, testified Newson grew up with a mother and father who were good parents to him. Smith described the neighborhood that he and Newson grew up on as poor but the families there helped each other out.
Smith testified that he would describe Newson as more of a follower, not a leader. Smith also said that Newson grew up having a stutter. He added that Newson was always willing to help, he trusts Newson and he has no worries about Newson's character.
Smith told the state that what Newson told him happened in the traffic stop that ended with Dickerson's death was "different" than what dash cam video showed. When he learned what happened, Smith said that he was angry with Newson for lying to him about the shooting. Smith testified he did not feel manipulated.
Smith testified that he has never gotten out of his car with an AR-15 and started shooting at an officer when he was pulled over by police. The state pointed out that is what Newson did to Dickerson.
Smith recalled having both good and bad interactions with police in Shreveport, and he witnessed police brutality growing up there. Smith said witnessing police brutality has impacted how he interacts with police, saying he doesn't like dealing with them.
Lawanda Thomas, the mother of Newson's son, described him as a funny and kind friend. She said that she and Newson were just friends, but they also later had a son together. Thomas said Newson always took care of his son and has been in his life even though he was in a relationship with another woman.
Thomas described Newson's relationship with his son as the perfect father-son relationship. She said she chose not to see the video showing Newson shooting Dickerson because she doesn't want to see someone get killed, but she's aware of how serious the situation is.
Dr. Erik Nielson, a professor of liberal arts at the University of Richmond, took the stand to testify about rap music being used as evidence. He testified rap music is intended to be received as fiction.
Nielson testified that rap lyrics that Newson wrote and were shown to the jury were consistent with gangster rap. He testified it's dangerous to assume that rap lyrics are autobiographical. Lyrics that Newson performed show that Newson at least could've made up a fictitious scenario of killing a police officer around 2 a.m., Nielson said.
The defense called a census expert to the stand about data showing where Newson lived in the Greater Shreveport-Bossier Parish area in Louisiana, showing that education levels were low and both poverty and unemployment were high. The expert said the census data she gathered is not specific to Newson, but it gives insight and information about the community he lived in.
Due to witness scheduling issues and hearings needed outside of jurors' presence, the jury was asked to come back at 1 p.m. Thursday. The judge noted if there's a need to delay until 8:30 a.m. Friday, the jurors will receive an email.
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