By Hannah Curran, Editor
BIRMINGHAM — Jacob Naquade Chambers took the stand and testified in his own defense on Thursday, March 30, in his trial for the murder of Paul Edward Trull Jr.
Chambers, 33, of Odenville, is charged in the 2020 shooting death of Trull, his stepfather, at a home in the 7500 block of Weems Lane in Clay. At issue is whether Chambers intended to kill Trull or whether he acted in self-defense.
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Chambers’ sister, Alexandria Foster, alleged that Trull had abused her from a young age and that she told Chambers’ fiance — now his wife — about the abuse on November 22, 2020. Foster said that the following day she had a conversation with Trull, who said that “he would shoot him” (meaning Chambers) if Chambers tried to confront him about the allegations.
On November 24, 2020, Chambers said after dropping his son off at a friend’s house, he went to his mother’s house to discuss the allegations with her and Foster. He said he called Christina Chambers on speakerphone while Kimberly Trull called Trull on speakerphone to discuss the allegations. Chambers claims the conversation with Trull ended abruptly, and Kimberly Trull asked him to place a gun under her pillow in her room for protection.
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Chambers said Kimberly Trull asked him, Foster, and Foster’s boyfriend to leave, and when they did, they tried to avoid passing Trull, who was on the way home. However, they did end up passing Trull, and he received a call from Trull asking him to return to the house. Chambers said he didn’t want to return but eventually turned around and returned to the residence.
Chambers claims he and Foster approached the house together, and Foster entered the house first. Chambers said Trull met them with aggression and called Foster a liar. Chambers then asked his sister to wait outside upon entering the house, Chambers told Foster to step outside.
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Foster testified that Trull became angry with Chambers, told him that his uncle was on the way to the residence and that she heard Trull say Chambers “wasn’t going to make it out of the driveway” as he began to reach into his pocket for a gun. Foster said it was at this point she turned and ran off the porch, and that is when she heard five gunshots ring out. Foster said she didn’t know who had fired the gun, but she believed she would be next if Trull had shot Chambers.
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Chambers claimed Trull was his best friend and talked to him every day. He said Trull taught him “how to be a man” and that everyone in his family carried a gun because the “second amendment supports an American family.” The day before the fatal shooting, Chambers said that when he heard from Christina Chambers that his father threatened to kill him, he feared for his life.
Chambers then claimed Trull has been violent in the past and has supposedly killed someone and got away with it.
During the conversation with Trull, Chambers claims Trull “jumped up from his chair” and told him to beat him up, and when Chambers responded why would he do that, he said Trull responded, “Why don’t you just shoot me.” Chambers said when he told Trull his uncle was coming over, Trull became furious and made a statement, “what are you going to do about it, hero.” Chambers said he thought about leaving the house at this point, but he couldn’t get out without walking past Trull.
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Chambers said that he did not want to kill Trull. He said Trull taught him if you’re going to pull your gun, plan to use it “because it’s not a game.”
“I love him, and I think about him every day,” Chamber said.
On cross-examination, Chambers had to admit that he didn’t know for sure that his stepfather had a gun, but that he believed the man did have possession of a firearm.
Assistant District Attorney Joe Hicks asked Chambers if it would surprise him to know that in his interview with the detective, Chambers said: “he didn’t know if Trull had a gun.” However, Chambers said in the interview he said: “he thought he had a gun.”
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Hicks asked Chambers if he put the gun on top of the fridge, why he didn’t take the gun, he suspected his father to have it on top of the fridge as well, and Chambers said he didn’t see his father as a threat anymore and didn’t do anything with that gun.
Attorneys for each side will present closing arguments Thursday morning beginning at 9 a.m. at the Mel Bailey Criminal Justice Building.