By Hannah Curran, Editor
BIRMINGHAM — Attorneys for the prosecution and defense delivered their opening statements as the murder trial of Jacob Naquade Chambers got underway in earnest on Tuesday, March 29.
The 33-year-old Chambers, of Odenville, is charged with murder in the 2020 shooting death of his stepfather, 56-year-old Paul Edward Trull Jr. The victim was killed at a home in the 7500 block of Weems Lane in Clay.
Trull was shot in the head three times in the living room of his home after a dispute in which the victim had been accused of assaulting another family member, according to both parties. Trull later succumbed to his injuries.
In his opening statements, Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Hicks said life is about decisions, and this case is about the decision that Chambers made to be the judge, jury, and executioner. Hicks said that Chambers decided that his stepfather, who he previously believed “could do no wrong,” abused his sister many years ago, which caused him to get upset.
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From there, the prosecutor said, Chambers went to the victim’s home to confront Trull. The victim, seated in a rocking chair, got up and allegedly walked toward him with his hands in the air. Chambers, prosecutors claim, responded by shooting Trull.
Chambers’ attorneys, however, claim the shooting was in self-defense. Defense attorney John Tindal claimed that Trull called Chambers to come to the house to discuss the accusations. While the defense admitted there is evidence Chambers had a gun in his pocket when he returned to the residence with his sister. The defense argued that Trull stated he was going to “blow [Chambers] away” and asked Chambers why he didn’t “beat him up” for the accusations made against him.
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At some point during the confrontation, the defense argued that Trull became agitated and rose from his chair and approached Chambers. When Trull supposedly was within arms reach of Chambers, the defense said he started fumbling in his pocket for his pistol, and that was when Chambers began moving away from Trull and pulled his own weapon and fired five shots.
Chambers’ stepbrother, Nicholas Trull, who arrived at the house with Trull on the day of the shooting, was also called as a witness for the state. Nicholas said he was sitting outside the house during the discussion when he heard several gunshots ring out and rushed to the house. He was initially blocked from going inside but was able to call 911.
Chambers’ grandmother, Caroline Sue Elsberry explained she was sitting in between Chambers and Trull when the shooting occurred. Elsberry claims the discussion between Chambers and Trull only lasted two and half minutes and that Trull got up from the rocking chair with his hands in the air and walked over to the lounge chair that separated the two men. While he was walking, Elsberry said that Trull was calmly trying to get his son to calm down so they could discuss the matter.
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Elsberry said Chambers’ hands were in his hoodie pocket, and when Trull got face-to-face with the defendant, Chambers pulled the gun and fired five shots.
During cross-examination, the defense pointed out some inconsistencies of what Elsberry told police right after the shooting and what she said on the stand. The defense also asked Elsberry about her relationship with Chambers and said that Elsberry hadn’t had any connection with Chambers for 12 years until the defendant’s mother became ill.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Byars said he secured the scene and detained Chambers after the incident. His bodycam footage of how he secured the scene and detained Chambers on November 24, 2020, was presented to the jury. The footage shows Chambers cooperating with Byars.
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Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Lynn Lloyd was also called as a witness for the state. Her bodycam footage showed Kimberly Trull, who was battling cancer at the time of the incident. The bodycam revealed Kimberly Trull saying that her husband, Trull, walked up to Chambers and asked him, “Do you really believe that,” and that’s when Chambers shot him. Kimberly Trull passed away four months after the incident.
Next, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Sergeant Kent Holmes took the stand to discuss the photos he took of the scene. In those photos, the jury saw the room layout where the shooting occurred. In the room, they saw the rocking chair where Trull had been sitting, the lounge chair where Elsberry was sitting, and the blue shirt and brown jacket Trull had been wearing at the time of the shooting. In addition, jurors saw evidence marking where five shell casings had fallen around the lounge chair and one bullet. A second bullet was found in another bedroom after traveling through several walls.
Chambers watched the screen as images were shown.
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The state presented the shell casings in court. Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Alexander Carey asked Holmes if any weapons were found in the house during the search. He testified that one weapon was located on top of the fridge where the defendant had placed it, and a second gun was found in the pocket of the jacket that Trull was wearing.
Up next, the images of the firearms that were taken from on top of the fridge and from the jacket pocket were shown.
The prosecution then opened a sealed evidence box containing the firearm investigators said was used to shoot and kill Trull. It was a black handgun. The prosecution also opened the evidence box that contained the firearm found in Trull’s jacket.
Alabama Department of Forensic Science’s, Tyler Shelton, was called to the stand by the state and explained that he examined both firearms and projectiles.
During cross-examination, Chamber’s attorney asked Shelton to verify that when a shell casing is ejected from a weapon, it leaves at a 45-degree angle to the right. Shelton said a general rule of thumb is that shell casing ejects at a 45-degree angle to the right, but it could not be proven scientifically. Shelton also noted that during controlled scenarios, when firing a gun, shell casing could land any way.
Finally, the state called Chief Coroner/Medical Examiner, Dr. Greg Davis with the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office, who explained the cause of death to be an injury to the brain due to gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The state presented images from the coroner’s report depicting the injuries Trull received on the day of the shooting. Davis said during his testimony that a toxicology report was done, but that Trull tested negative for everything that coroner’s routinely tested for.
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The images showed two apparent exit wounds beside the right ear. One entry wound on the left side of Trull’s forehead and an entry wound on the back of Trull’s neck. The images also depicted some grazing on Trull’s left ear and cheek from the bullet.
During cross-examination, Davis was asked if he could determine the trajectory of the bullets and if could tell what position Trull was in when he received the injuries. Davis responded that they could determine the trajectory, but could not determine the position Trull was in when he received them.
Testimony will continue Wednesday. The trial is being held at the Mel Bailey Criminal Justice Building.