FORT WORTH -- More than a half-dozen jailers and sheriff's deputies testified Tuesday that convicted killer Kwame Rockwell had been a "model inmate" at the Tarrant County Jail -- polite, respectful and quiet.
The jailers and other people from Rockwell's past -- including his football coach at O.D. Wyatt High School, where he was a quarterback, and a man who once bought a car from him -- told jurors that Rockwell was by all appearances a good citizen.The questioning by defense attorneys Mark Daniel and Tim Moore during the punishment phase of the capital murder trial suggested to jurors that Rockwell could contribute to society if they sentence him to life in prison without parole -- an alternative to the death penalty, which prosecutors are seeking.Among the witnesses was Christopher Hollie, who said he once played for the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots before hurting his knee. He is now a Tarrant County jailer who worked in the jail's infirmary, where Rockwell was housed much of the time while awaiting trial.The defense also presented evidence that Rockwell was suicidal after his arrest in 2010 and that his refusal to eat made him so weak that he had to be helped up by deputies. He was eventually treated with psychiatric medications and began to eat again, witnesses testified.Rockwell was convicted of capital murder last week in the shooting death of convenience store clerk Daniel Rojas, 22, during a robbery. A Mrs Baird's deliveryman, Jerry Burnett, who happened to be stocking shelves, was also shot in the head and died 10 days later.Four other men were charged with capital murder in the crime; three are awaiting trial and one pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated robbery in exchange for his testimony.Prosecutors Kevin Rousseau and Sean Colston countered the defense witnesses Tuesday with evidence that Rockwell had a knifelike shank in his cell and a map of what appeared to be John Peter Smith Hospital, which they suggested meant he was planning an escape.While questioning witnesses, prosecutors also suggested that Rockwell had "threatened to kill everyone" in his unit if he received the death penalty.Testimony is expected to continue today in Criminal District Court No. 4 before visiting Judge Elizabeth Berry.Dianna Hunt, 817-390-7084Twitter @DiannaHuntHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
