UPDATE: Jury finds Boss Saylor guilty on all three charges in the attempted murder case. The jury returned the verdict at 1:20 a.m. The sentencing phase will be held today at 10 a.m.
The trial of Boss Saylor continued Wednesday in Harlan Circuit Court. As of press time the jury had been out for about two hours, but no verdict had been returned.
Testimony picked up Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. where it left of Tuesday with Kentucky State Police Det. Kenny Abner on the stand undergoing cross examination by Saylor’s attorney Doug Asher.
Abner testified that a gun residue kit had been transported to the scene and that Napier had been flown from the scene by helicopter to Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tenn.
Under redirect by Commonwealth’s Attorney Parker Boggs, Abner testified there was no indication that Saylor was acting in self-defense or that the shooting had been accidental. Abner also stated it was not possible to say conclusively that Napier was shot where he fell.
Boggs called Napier to the stand to testify about the shooting.
According to Napier, he was pulling weeds behind the church, looked up and saw Saylor. Saylor accused Napier of calling him a dirty s.o.b. Napier stated he had not done this at which time Saylor physically attacked him, knocking him to the ground and shooting him three times.
“I thought sure he was going to kill me,” said Napier.
On cross examination, Asher argued that if Saylor had intended to kill Napier, he would have.
The defense called Saylor to the stand to give his version of events.
According to Saylor, on the day of the shooting he went to his mailbox, which required him to cross church property. Saylor said that once he exited the swinging bridge leading to the church, Napier attacked him by punching him and pushing him into the side of the church.
Saylor testified that he shot Napier to fend off an attack by the younger man. After the shooting, Saylor said he walked back across the swinging bridge past his house to the family graveyard.
After closing arguments, the jury went into deliberations at around 9:30 p.m., but no verdict was returned at press time.
Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510, ext. 113, jasher@civitasmedia.com
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