Seal murder trial underway
By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
The murder trial of William Sterlin Seal began Tuesday morning in circuit court, with grisly testimony describing the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Connie Gayle Tompkins last August.
The 45-year-old Seal is charged with murdering Tompkins with a .410 caliber pump shotgun sometime around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2004, at Foxridge Apartments C2, where the two had been living for around six months. Testimony indicated the pair were living with Seal's uncle, Carl David Whitlock.
The couple had been together for around 10 years, and the two had a long history of domestic violence. Arneda Heath, executive director of Safeplace, told the FCT last August that Tompkins had called the organization for help several times during her relationship with Seal, the latest sometime in 2000.
Seal was indicted in August on murder charges stemming from his arrest at the scene. Murder is a Class A felony and carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison upon conviction.
Capt. David Hester, an investigator with the Russellville Police Department, testified for the state Tuesday that he found Tompkins lying on her side in the door of a bedroom in the apartment, with her feet in the bedroom. Franklin County Deputy Coroner Elzie Malone pronounced Tompkins dead at the scene.
Hester said the fatal gunshot hit Tompkin's side, puncturing her lung and aorta, causing extensive bleeding.
According to testimony in the case, officers found a .410 shotgun and two spent shell casings in the bedroom near Tompkin's body. One of the pillows in the bedroom had been shot, with pellets and wadding from the shell found inside, Hester testified.
RPD officer Mike Prince testified Tuesday that he was the first one on the scene. According statements, Seal told the police he was in bed when Tompkins began hitting him. He said he picked up a shotgun and shot her.
Whitlock told police in a statement that he was in his bedroom asleep when he woke up and found Seal going through his closet, then pass in front of the door carrying a shotgun. He said he heard Tompkins yelling and heard a shot. He then went into the hallway and saw the shooting.
Tompkins has a prior conviction of assault in 1996 in Franklin County and resisting arrest, falsifying a report and assault in 1999 in Haleyville, according to reports. The reports list Tompkins as the victim in each of the assault charges.
Hester testified Tuesday that a member of Seal's family came to the police department a few days after the shooting and delivered a device used for smoking crack cocaine, claiming it belonged to Tompkins. Hester and Prince testified that no drug paraphernalia was found at the scene.
Seal is being represented by defense attorney Ben Richey. The case is expected to conclude sometime today.
