Attorneys say Adrian Maurice Ezell stood over his wife, already wounded by gunshots, in their Russell County home last year and shot her another six times, execution style, because of her relationship with another man.
The 38-year-old Ezell, whose murder trial began Monday, doesn’t deny the accusations but he questions whether it was murder or a case of a man pushed too far.
Ezell faces a life sentence if convicted of murder in the June 21, 2010, shooting death of Felisha Ezell. Defense attorney L. Joel Collins, who represents Ezell, asked jurors to consider a manslaughter charge once they’d heard all the evidence. If Collins prevails, Ezell will face a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Buster Landreau told jurors the shooting stemmed from marital problems. Adrian Ezell already planned to move out of their Jason Drive home when he shot Felisha Ezell in her neck and wrist before following her into a walk-in closet. There, he shot her another six times in the back before calling his brother, 911 and his wife’s mother.
“He left a voice mail for her,” Landreau said. “It goes something like this: ‘Hey, how ya doing? I know you’re going to hate me, but I shot your daughter.’ ”
The marital problems began three weeks before the shooting. Adrian Ezell found a strange phone
number on his wife’s phone. When he confronted her, she told him she had feelings for another man, Landreau told jurors.
According to Collins, Felisha Ezell wanted to remain married to his client, but she also wanted to pursue the other man. The pair argued for weeks, and Felisha Ezell moved into a hotel. She returned to the Jason Drive home on June 21, 2010, and met with her husband but another argument broke out.
They walked upstairs to the bedroom, and Felisha Ezell went into the bathroom. She began screaming during the argument, saying nothing Adrian Ezell did could stop her. Adrian Ezell then got a gun and shot her once, Collins said.
Landreau said Felisha Ezell ran toward the only available spot -- a walk-in closet. Adrian Ezell shot again, striking his wife in the wrist. She then fell to the floor.
“He stood over and fired six shots into her back,” Landreau added. “He executed her.”
Adrian Ezell then called his brother, telling him, “I lost it,” Collins said. He then called 911 and his wife’s mother, telling both that he shot Felisha Ezell, Landreau said.
Bullets found at the scene were matched to Adrian Ezell’s gun, the prosecutor added.
“He matter-of-factly said, ‘We had problems,’ ” Landreau told jurors. “There’s no dispute that he killed her.”
Collins told jurors to closely watch a videotaped interview of his client.
“Listen and see, you as jurors, if this is a man who had been pushed too far or a man who had murdered his wife,” Collins said.
The trial continues today.
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