One witness testified Thursday in a case involving an alleged plot by a 20-year-old Harrison man to have his father killed. One of the alleged conspirators wound up getting accidentally shot, authorities said.
Raymond Lyle is charged with attempted first-degree murder, and Thomas Bedford Claxton with solicitation to commit first-degree murder, aggravated burglary and property theft. Claxton allegedly planned the murder of his father so he could get his inheritance.
In the first part of a hearing for Lyle before General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom, an East Ridge Mapco employee told of seeing the four alleged conspirators come by in a truck last November.
Bradley Love said Lyle and Nathaniel Bailey came by the next night and bought a pair of gloves. He said they were headed for the Claxton home in Harrison. He said they apparently planned to carry out a burglary.
The hearing will be resumed on Feb. 18 when more witnesses are due to be present.
The father of Claxton told police he woke up at his Waconda Point home on the night of Nov. 15 to the sound of gunfire and a vehicle speeding away.
Justin Allen, one of the alleged conspirators, was accidentally shot by Lyle, it was stated. His injuries were not life threatening.
Claxton said he Allen, Lyle and Bailey had made plans to kill his father and stage it as a burglary.
He said his father was planning on kicking him out of the house if he did not start college and find a job. He also said that he would benefit financially from his father's death.
Police found that the gun safe had been opened and the home burglarized with some $13,000 in items taken. Claxton's father said only he and his son had access to the security codes to get into the house.
Claxton admitted giving the codes to Lyle and Bailey.