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June 4, 2009 – December 3, 2007
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Note: It appears some of this came from the Dothan Eagle but links were broken.

December 3, 2007

The death penalty case of a Dothan man goes before a jury this week.

23-year-old David Phillip Wilson faces a capital murder charge.

He’s accused of the April 2004 beating and strangulation death of 64-year-old Dewey Walker.

Walker’s body was found in his home on Shields Court.

Investigators say Walker lived alone and had been dead for nearly a week.

Prosecutors will try to prove that Wilson committed the murder so he could steal Walker’s van and an expensive sound system in it.

Jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin Monday at the Houston County Courthouse.

December 6, 2007

A Houston County jury has recommended the death penalty for a man found guilty of capital murder.

23-year-old David Wilson was convicted of killing 64-year-old Dewey Walker in April of 2004.

Prosecutors say Wilson beat and strangled walker so he could steal the man’s van and the expensive sound system in it.

Jurors deliberated about an hour and a half Wednesday morning before finding Wilson guilty.

They recommended Wilson be put to death in a 10 to 2 vote and the final decision lies with Judge Ed Jackson.

Judge Jackson will announce Wilson’s sentence January 8 in the Houston County Courthouse.

December 26, 2007

This is a related case

Catherine Corley has pleaded guilty to murder and burglary, possibly sparing herself from the death penalty, for her part in the killing of a 64-year-old man in 2004.

Corley, 23, received a 20-year sentence for the burglary and a 25-year sentence for the murder. The sentences will run concurrently. In addition to the prison time, Corley will pay fines and restitution totalling more than $46,000.

Corley was originally charged with capital murder in the killing of Dewey Walker. Police found Walker dead in his kitchen on April 13, 2004. His customized Chevrolet Astro Van was missing at the time. Co-workers of Walker called police after he had not shown up for work for a week. Police later found the stripped van on a rural county road in Ashford. According to police, Walker’s house had also been looted by burglars who had knocked holes in the walls looking for hidden money.

Police later determined that David Phillip Wilson, 22, had entered Walker’s home and beat him to death with a baseball bat. According to police, Wilson, Michael Jackson, 23, Matthew Lee Marsh, 22, and Corley had planned to burglarize Walker’s home.

District Attorney Doug Valeska said Corley admitted her role in the planning of the burglary as part of her plea agreement.

“She cried and said that if she hadn’t helped plan that burglary, he’d be alive today,” Valeska said.

Defense attorney Billy Joe Sheffield said he thought his client had gotten a good deal.

“Any time you have a capital murder charge it’s an uphill battle,” he said.

Plea agreements in capital murder cases are rare in Houston County. Valeska said he opted for the agreement based upon the law, the evidence and what he thought a jury would do if the case went to trial.

Corley’s conviction finishes the trial phase for all four defendants in Walker’s killing. Marsh, Corley and Jackson all pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Wilson was found guilty of capital murder and a jury has recommended the death penalty. A judge is expected to rule on the recommendation early next year.

January 10, 2008

A 23-year-old Dothan man has been sentenced to death for killing a 64-year-old resident by beating and choking him, all part of a burglary to steal the victim’s valuables.

David Phillip Wilson was sentenced to death by Circuit Judge Edward Jackson shortly after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

He was convicted last month of killing Dewey Walker inside his home in April 2004.

Wilson beat Walker with an aluminum baseball bat, then choked him with a computer mouse cord along with an extension cord during the burglary.

Three others were also charged with capital murder in Walker’s death, including Matthew Marsh, Catherine Corley and Michael Ray Jackson, all 24. Marsh, Corley, and Jackson all previously pleaded guilty to their involvement in the murder.

June 04, 2009 – Death penalty ordered for Dothan man in beating death

A 23-year-old Dothan man has been sentenced to death for killing a 64-year-old resident by beating and choking him, all part of a burglary to steal the victim’s valuables.

David Phillip Wilson was sentenced to death by Circuit Judge Edward Jackson shortly after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

He was convicted last month of killing Dewey Walker inside his home in April 2004.

Wilson beat Walker with an aluminum baseball bat, then choked him with a computer mouse cord along with an extension cord during the burglary.

Three others were also charged with capital murder in Walker’s death, including Matthew Marsh, Catherine Corley and Michael Ray Jackson, all 24. Marsh, Corley, and Jackson all previously pleaded guilty to their involvement in the murder.

“I accidentally hit him in the back of the head, and that was not my intention,” Wilson told police. “I was trying to aim for his shoulder.”

Wilson told Dothan Police Lt. Tony Luker he struck Walker with a baseball bat to get him to drop a knife he’d picked up.

Wilson told police he’d originally taken the bat with him to protect himself against Walker’s dog, a chihuahua. After police found Walker’s body they also found his dog hiding under his bed.

After Walker failed to drop the knife Wilson said he grabbed a computer mouse cord nearby and used it to choke Walker until the cord the broke.

Wilson said several other people “begged and begged him” to go into Walker’s house and steal the keys to his van, which had at least a dozen speakers inside, along with other electronic equipment.