Suspect in DA Killings Has Theft Appeal Denied

KAUFMAN (AP) – An appeals court has upheld the theft conviction of the suspected shooter in the slayings of three people, including two North Texas prosecutors. The 5th Texas Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed the trial judgment against Eric Williams, now imprisoned for the killings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife, Cynthia, and fellow prosecutor Mark Hasse. Authorities believe Williams carried out the killings to avenge the former justice of the peace’s conviction last year on theft charges, over computer monitors taken from a county building. McLelland and Hasse prosecuted the case against him. Williams had appealed the conviction. It was pending when Hasse was killed in January and the McLellands were fatally shot in March. Authorities have said they’ll seek the death penalty against Williams.