Published: November 18, 2009 06:51 am      

Capital Murder trial begins for Howard White

Trial testimony began Tuesday for Howard White who is accused of the 2006 murder of 26-year-old Chad Stephens.

First to take the stand was Latisha Runnels, 32, who was engaged to Stephens at the time of his death. The pair lived at 1505 Main Street when the incident occurred.

Runnels began her testimony by telling jurors Stephens had planned to purchase the a vehicle from the men.

According to Orange Leader archives, Janice gave police a statement in 2006 in which he said the men had come up with a ploy to sell his 1992 Cadillac for $800 to Stephens in order to get money. The plan was to have Stephens take the men to an alternate location after the purchase of the car and have Stephens step out of the vehicle. The men would then leave with the money and the car.

However, Runnels testified, “Something didn’t seem right to be selling it for $800.”

Conrad Pitre stayed in the vehicle while Geriod Janice and Howard White entered the residence. Runnels testified she was in their bedroom when there was a knock at the front door. Stephens went to answer it, but when he came back, Janice and White were right behind him.

Stephens opened the safe where the money was kept and sat in a chair near a computer desk to count it out. During this time, Runnels said she saw White and Janice had a gun hidden on them. It was then she decided to go into the living room and retrieve a gun from a bag on the couch. She hid it in her pants and went back to the bedroom. Runnels then hid the gun under a sheet on the bed so Stephens could have access to it.

Runnels said she had a bad feeling about the incident and was determined to follow the men in her vehicle as the transaction was completed.

After a bill of sale was written and Stephens was in possession of the keys, the men left the room. However, a few minutes later Stephens returned and Runnels testified she believes Chad was pushed into the bedroom and stumbled as he walked into the room. White held a gun to Stephens head as he told him to open the safe. At about the same time Janice raised his gun toward Runnels. As Janice did this, Stephens “came flying across the bed” in an attempt to cover her body with his, according to court testimony.

White began to strike Stephens on the back of the head with the gun. Runnels said she tried to move her arm to protect Stephens’ head, but was unable to move.

“The whole time they just kept hitting him,” Runnels said as she sobbed on the stand.

Stephens located the gun under the sheet and lifted himself “up on all fours.”

When White and Janice saw he had a gun, they ran out the door. Stephens and Runnels followed behind them.

According to Runnels’ testimony, White ran outside and went behind a tree. Janice stopped for a moment but then ran from the scene. Runnels said she remembers hearing “a bunch of shots.”

White came from behind the tree and stood in the yard in front of Stephens who remained in the doorway of the house. Runnels who was standing behind Stephens at the time of the shooting, testified she saw the fire from the gun as White fired the fatal shot toward Stephens.

Runnels heard Stephens say, “Oh God! I’m hit,” before he stumbled around and fell onto the couch. Runnels said Stephens was pale and as he tried to talk, “blood began to run out of his mouth.”

During this time, Runnels said she was fearful the men would come inside the house to retrieve the keys. She looked out the window to see if they were still outside when she saw Pitre get out of the vehicle and run from the scene.

Runnels said she went to get a rag to wipe the blood from Stephens’ mouth.

“It just kept coming out and then he stopped breathing,” Runnels said while sobbing heavily. The next day she went to the Orange Police Department where she identified White in a line-up photo, according to testimony.

Also testifying Tuesday was Melanie Janice who is married to Geriod Janice. She was subpoenaed by the state to testify regarding her statement to police. She said she did not remember the events leading up to the statement. However, after the statement was read by Orange County Assistant District Attorney Krispen Choate, she said, “If I said it that night then it must be true.”

The statement included information of how she overheard White saying he had killed Stephens and how Melanie Janice had put the clothes he had been wearing into a trash bag for disposal.

The afternoon testimony included technicians from the regional crime lab, investigators and officers.

Testimony will resume 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in the 163rd District Court.

The other defendants in the case, Conrad James Pitre, of Orange pleaded guilty in Oct. 2006 to the murder of Stephens and received a 20 -year sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Geriod Janice of Orange was found guilty during a trial in February 2007 of capital murder and will have to serve a mandatory life sentence.