Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 31, 1992 TAG: 9203310280
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Davidson is one of two men charged with the May 1990 shooting death of Timothy Dean Prim, 27, of Pulaski County. Judge Ed Turner also certified a charge of using a firearm in commission of a felony.
A preliminary hearing for the other man charged, Ronnie Allen Weatherman, 22, of Wythe County, was continued until next month.
Weatherman and Davidson were arrested in February after a 21-month investigation.
Prim's body was found by a hunter May 3, 1990, at the base of Gatewood Dam. His body had 12 bullet wounds.
Davidson was returned to jail in Wytheville after the preliminary hearing. He was being held in lieu of $50,000 bond. Weatherman was being held in the Pulaski County jail in lieu of $200,000 bond.
David Skewes, Davidson's attorney, questioned Pulaski County Capt. Jim Davis about his interrogation of Davidson that led to a confession.
Skewes said Davidson had twice denied shooting the gun in two interviews before Feb. 10. And during a Feb. 10 interview, a transcript noted that Davidson was crying and very upset, but still denying any involvement in the shootings, Skewes said. Davidson had waived an attorney for the questioning, Skewes said, and even asked that he be put under hypnosis to help answer questions.
In the Feb. 10 interview, Davidson said as many as 10 shots were fired by Weatherman, who then pressed the gun into Davidson's hand and told him to shoot, too, Skewes said.
Skewes argued to Turner that Davidson had twice denied participating in the shooting and admitted involvement only after "repetitious questions" and "very forceful suggestions."
Davidson was at the interview voluntarily, his attorney said, "but at some point it ceases to be and interview and becomes a coercive interrogation."
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Doug Schroder argued that Davis used proper police interrogation tactics.
Last month, police said evidence tended to indicate robbery was the motive for the killing, but Skewes disagreed, calling the shooting "in the spur of the moment."
by CNB