A tearful former football player explained to Iowa police that he repeatedly shot his large college coach due to the fact he believed him to be a devil who turned students "into dead persons," according to an interview with the murder suspect recorded just several hours immediately after Ed Thomas' death.
The scratchy, muddled audio recording of 24-year-old Mark Becker's confession was played to a packed Butler County courtroom on Tuesday, the second day of his trial for first-degree murder. Becker has pleaded not guilty by purpose of insanity.
Prosecutors say Becker calmly walked to the pounds room at Aplington-Parkersburg High Classes about the morning of June 24 and killed Thomas in front of a group of teenage pupils.
"I placed one in his head, then I placed two much more in his head, then I fit 1 from the knee," Becker mentioned from the recording of his interview with Division of Criminal Investigation agent Chris Callaway much less than two hours after Thomas was shot dead. "I emptied the clip and left it empty."
Dr. Jenni McLemore with the State Medical Examiner's Office, testified that Thomas suffered four gunshot wounds to the head, an additional to the knee, one that went through his left hand along with a shot that grazed his chin.
As McLemore spoke, prosecutors placed up pictures of Thomas' entire body employing a projector. The coach's grown son, Aaron, seated within the courtroom, grimaced and held his head in his hands.
Callaway testified that Becker claimed in the meeting that he felt "no guilt or shame" regarding the slaying, although he had cried as he confessed to the killing. Becker's voice trembled at periods in the recording.
Becker informed Callaway that as he approached Thomas, his previous coach turned and greeted him. "And I shot him," Becker said, adding, "It's a wonderful thing. It's so great."
The suspect has pleaded not guilty by purpose of insanity, and his attorneys have mentioned that they will try to indicate he is usually a paranoid schizophrenic who had not used his prescribed medication the evening prior to the shooting.
Public defender Susan Flander moved to have the charges against Becker dropped immediately after the jury was dismissed Tuesday. Flander explained the audio recording showed Becker was incapable of premeditation.
District Court Judge Stephen Carroll denied the motion.
In the meeting, Becker spoke inside a monotone about why he have desired to kill Thomas, the 2005 NFL Huge College Coach from the Year who led efforts to rebuild Parkersburg immediately after a massive tornado wiped out about one-third on the town and killed 6 men and women in 2008.
"He's a devil, he's a devil tyrant, he's suppressing the kids out here," Becker stated of Thomas within the recording. "We can hardly breathe at night. He comes through and he turns us into fish and he turns us into animals and he turns us into dead folks. He won't let us be our heavenly selves. He's been doing it forever."
Becker explained that after the shooting he explained to the college students present they was free. 6 college students who witnessed the shooting have currently testified.
"You go in there and kick him when you want to, but you're no cost. I explained, 'Be free,' Becker exclaimed. "It's accomplished, it is really done, it really is around."
During the interview, Becker advised Callaway that he observed the devil, "a horned beast," inside the area with them.
Craig Kalkwarf, a university custodian and Becker's former neighbor, explained he observed Becker just ahead of the shooting, and that he had seemed happier that morning than he had for months.
Carl Bessman, an Iowa DCI criminalist and weapons professional, stated the caliber of bullets found in Thomas matched the sort of gun Becker possessed when he was arrested. He was unable to uncover an precise match due to the fact the bullets were damaged.
The prosecution rested Tuesday. Defense lawyers will start presenting witnesses Wednesday.
