The International Justice Project
Case Overview
Edward Capetillo, a Latino male, was 17 years
of age at the time of his arrest for the murder of Kimberly
Williamson on January 16, 1995. Prior to the crime, Capetillo
had no previous criminal record.
Facts of the Case
On the evening of January 16, 1995, Edward
Capetillo, James Duke, Curtis Duke, Ryan Spillane, and Michael
Wilson congregated at the Duke's apartment. Prior to
Captetillo's arrival, the group had been discussing various
methods of obtaining money to allow James Duke to purchase
marijuana.
James Duke's suggestion of robbery was met
with little support. Another suggestion was to sell Spillane's
.38 caliber handgun and an electronic scale. Wilson suggested
that a friend called Matt Vickers might be interested in
purchasing both items. Wilson rang him to offer both items but
Vickers declined. After the telephone conversation, Spillane
suggested robbing Vickers, as he believed him to have both
marijuana and $1,000.
When Capetillo arrived he agreed to join the
others in robbing Vickers. The group then drove to Vicker's
house in a vehicle that James Duke had stolen earlier that week.
That evening Vickers was at home with his 19
year old sister, Allison, her friend Kimberley Williamson who
was staying at the Vickers' home, and Matt Vickers' friend Grant
Barnett. The Vickers' father was away attending a business
meeting.
Capetillo and the group drove to a park near
the Vickers' home. Leaving his friends in the car, Wilson
surveyed the house to ascertain who was in and their location
within the house.
Allison Vickers and Kimberly Williamson were
upstairs in Williamson's room. Williamson was talking to her
father on the phone when Capetillo, armed with a rifle, and
another person entered the room and ordered them downstairs.
Allison Vickers ran downstairs and managed to escape through the
front door. She ran to a neighbour's house where she called the
police.
Capetillo sent Curtis Duke to search for
Allison Vickers. However, he could not find her and returned to
the house. Matt Vickers and Grant Barnett were ordered into a
room on the ground floor with Kimberley Williamson. Capetillo
demanded money and marijuana. Grant Barnett surrendered $18.
Matt Vickers told Capetillo that he did not have any money or
marijuana and demanded that Capetillo leave the house. An
argument ensued between Capetillo and Matt Vickers.
At this point James Duke entered the room
pointing a .38 caliber handgun at Grant Barnett. As the argument
escalated, James Duke and Capetillo began shooting. Both Matt
Vickers and Grant Barnett were shot. Kimberley Williamson ran
into another room, where she tripped and fell. Capetillo chased
her and shot her at least twice in the neck and chest. Capetillo
then fled the scene.
Kimberley Williamson and Matt Vickers died
from their injuries. Grant Barnett survived despite being shot
three times; once in the back by a .22 caliber bullet and twice
with .38 caliber bullets.
Kimberley Williamson's autopsy revealed that
that she had been shot three times: in the neck behind her right
ear, in the back, and through her arm into her chest. The
autopsy also showed that the gun had on at least one occasion
been placed directly against her before being discharged and
that the weapon used was a .22 caliber rifle. Matt Vickers was
also shot three times: in the forehead and wrist with a .22
caliber weapon and in the back with a .38 caliber weapon.
On December 21, 1995 Capetillo was charged
with the capital murder of Kimberley Williamson, while in the
course of robbing Grant Barnett and attempting to rob Matthew
Vickers. On January 31, 1996 Capetillo was convicted of these
offenses and sentenced to death.
Edward Brian Capetillo
Abanet.org
On January 31, 1996, Eddie
Capetillo was convicted of capital murder for causing the death of
Kimberly Williamson. Eddie was only 17 years old at the time of
the crime. While we in no way seek to excuse Eddie's crime or
minimize the pain and suffering endured by the victim and her
family and friends, we believe that the state of Texas should not
execute Eddie Capetillo for this crime.
The Crime
On January 16, 1995, Eddie
Capetillo agreed to join four friends in carrying out a robbery.
Eddie carried a firearm into the home of Matt and Allison Vickers
and, in the course of trying to gather the four people in the
house together and force them to hand over money, shot Kimberly
Williamson, a friend of Allison's who was living in the house.
Bullets entered Kimberly's neck and chest, causing her death.
Eddie was indicted for capital murder on December 21, 1995. He was
convicted and sentenced to death in the Court of Harris County,
Texas on January 31, 1996.
The Trial
Eddie was only 17 years old
at the time of the crime. He was a student at Klein High School in
Texas and had no adult criminal record. The state's punishment
evidence consisted primarily of a chronicle of disciplinary
problems at school and in his neighborhood. However, sixteen
witnesses testified on Eddie's behalf at his trial, including his
parents and some of his teachers, soccer teammates, and neighbors.
They reported that Eddie was quiet and respectful and spoke about
his love for playing soccer. Eddie had joined the Navy's "Delayed
Entry Program" in his senior year, and his Navy recruitment
officer testified that Eddie had been a highly motivated and
respectful member of the program. Furthermore, a friend testified
that he had seen Eddie on the day of the offense and observed that
Eddie had been under the influence of LSD and cocaine. A physician
spoke as an expert witness about the dangerous effects those drugs
have on a person's perceptions and actions.
