Westmoreland homicide sent to grand jury

BY KATRINA CORNWELL/Staff • July 16, 2008 After hearing about a shooting-death of Westmoreland resident Grady Carter, General Sessions Judge Jim Hunter sent the case against Derek Williamson, of Lafayette, to the grand jury. Williamson, 24, of 411 Jack Porter Road, has been charged with first-degree murder. His bond has been set at $750,000. ADA Ron Blanton is prosecuting the case while Gallatin attorney John Pellegrin is representing Williamson. Both attorneys argued about making a change in the bond amount. Pellegrin requested that Williamson’s bond be reduced, and Blanton countered with a request to have his bond increased. Hunter’s ruling left the bond amount the same. “Based on the fact it’s a first-degree murder charge, he said he didn’t think the bond was out of the range of what was reasonable and declined to take any... [read full story]