UPDATE: Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at 11:45 am PRINCETON, WV (WOAY) – A Mercer County man has been found guilty of murder.
A jury found Darrell Hazelwood guilty of second-degree murder of Tessa Hill. Hill was murdered after being shot in the head from a pistol.
WOAY will have more information coming up tonight at 5 and 6.
PRINCETON, WV (WOAY) – Darrell Hazelwood’s trial began today at the Mercer County Courthouse.
Jurors were selected this morning, and shortly after lunch, opening statements began to review the charges against Hazelwood from last August.
Hazelwood has been in Southern Regional Jail. He was charged with first-degree murder against Tessa Hill. Hill was pronounced dead on the scene after the shooting. The cause of death was determined to have been from a gunshot to the head from a pistol.
One of the witnesses in the courtroom today was the forensic doctor who performed the autopsy on Hill. He confirmed the cause of death from his examination in front of the jury.
Hill’s long-time boyfriend, Ronnie Ferrell, was also called in as a witness today to discuss a motive. He was questioned about a possible prior disagreement between Hill and Hazelwood that could have been related to the shooting. Ferrell and Hill had been staying with Hazelwood before the incident.
The state rested their case today, and the defense will be able to present their evidence tomorrow.
The trial will continue tomorrow morning, beginning at 9:30 am.
