Accused killer takes stand in own defense, says he didn't kill Arlington pastor

UPDATE: 10:25 a.m.

Accused killer Steven Lawayne Nelson took the witness stand in his own defense Friday in the brutal suffocation death of Arlington pastor Clint Dobson.

Surrounded by sheriff's deputies and with his shackles concealed from jurors, Nelson denied killing the pastor and brutally beating the church secretary, saying he stayed outside the church while two friends went inside and killed the man.

"I didn't injure nobody or threaten nobody," Nelson said during questioning by defense attorneys Bill Ray and Steve Gordon.

"You witnessed something horrible, didn't you?" asked Gordon. "Do you feel remorse?"

"I feel bad," Nelson said. "I wouldn't want that to happen to my family or anybody."

Nelson is standing trial for capital murder in state District Judge Mike Thomas' court in the March 3, 2011 death of pastor Clint Dobson, 28. Dobson was beaten, bound and suffocated with a plastic bag over his head. Church secretary Judy Elliott was beaten severely and left for dead, but survived the attack.

Nelson maintained his story throughout grilling from prosecutor Bob Gill, but admitted he stepped around the bodies - still alive at the time, he said - to steal a laptop computer. He was later seen driving Elliott's stolen Mitsubishi Galant and using her stolen credit cards, and sold Dobson's laptop computer to a man at a tire store.

"You were so remorseful that your reaction was to grab a laptop?" asked Gill.

"They were still alive," Nelson said.

"They were obviously injured and your reaction was to steal from them?" retorted Gill.

"Yes, sir," Nelson said.

Court adjourned for the day about noon, shortly after Nelson's testimony, and will resume Monday. The defense could either put on additional witnesses at that point or rest their case. The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Monday.

Prosecutors Gill and Page Simpson are seeking the death penalty.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 10 a.m.

Accused killer Steven Lawayne Nelson sent incriminating text messages from his cellphone the day after the killing of an Arlington pastor.

"I did some s*** the other day, cuz," he texted to an unknown cell phone number, according to phone records. "I f***** up, cuz. Real bad.'"

The texts were read for jurors by prosecutor Page Simpson over the objection of defense attorney Bill Ray. And with that, the prosecution rested its case against Nelson, 25, charged with capital murder in the brutal suffocation death of pastor Clint Dobson, 28, of NorthPointe Baptist Church.

The evidentiary portion of the trial is expected to end today, with closing arguments likely to be held Monday before state District Judge Mike Thomas.

-Dianna Hunt

Arlington pastor Clint Dobson struggled violently with his attacker and was likely knocked unconscious by severe blows to the head, Tarrant County medical examiner Nizam Peerwani told jurors Friday in the capital murder trial of Steven Lawayne Nelson.

Peerwani testified that Dobson died, however, after a plastic bag was placed so tightly over his head that his last breaths sucked the bag into his mouth.

Nelson, 25, is standing trial on capital murder in the death of Dobson, 28. Dobson was beaten, bound and suffocated with a plastic bag during a robbery of NorthPointe Baptist Church in north Arlington. Church secretary Judy Elliott was severely beaten and left for dead but survived.

Prosecutors Bob Gill and Page Simpson are expected to wrap up their case today, with closing arguments likely to begin on Monday.

Defense attorneys Bill Ray and Steve Gordon have suggested during questioning that another man committed the killing, but prosecutors have presented evidence showing that he had an alibi for the hours during which the crimes occurred.

Testimony  has been continuing all week before State District Judge Mike Thomas.

-Dianna Hunt 

Comments

[cp]

He deserves the death penalty

[Joseph Pineda.MD]

This disgusting evil and loathsome "individual" and I used the word very loosely....more fitting description would be that of a stalking animal, preying on innocent victims... he murdered my niece's husband in cold blood... and without provocation..a crime that was premeditated and poorly thought out due to his obvious stupidity and lack of education...or maybe he was just another of the Government's "do not leave behind Graduates".....in either case he has destroyed many lives..careers and families. The damage he has caused will never be forgotten or erased from our memory.
DEATH PENALTY is much to good for him since the State does not want HIM to SUFFER like his victims did.The horror that Clint Dobson must have endured as he realized he was being murdered and struggled for his life and thinking of his wife(my niece),his family his parents, siblings,as he endured the savage beating and crack skull and suffocation.....HELL is too good for this animal....I hope the STATE of TEXAS does it's duty swiftly once the JURY finds him obviously guilty.I hate to think that my taxes help house him, feed him, and provide him with medical care.This killer's life is worthless...but the lives he ruined will never be the same again.

[Carol N]

This killing seems so cold and callous and all so premeditated. I agree with Dr. Jospeph Pineda, the death peanlty is way to good for these killers. All focus should always be on the victims, not the killers. The secretary will suffer many years with guilt survival, and Pastor Dobson, deserved so much better than this. These creeps need to stop making excuses, you "stepped over the bodies and they were still "alive", as a human being, what did you do to ensure, after this evil was done, that they stayed alive? Because you wanted them dead, to rob them and steal thier things. I am so glad Texas has the death penalty. Give justice to these two victims and put these mad dogs down. Then they need to beg God to forgive them, which he will, and they will still have to pay with thier lives regardless. This case sickens me to the core. My heart and prayers go out to the victims families...

[Joseph Pineda,MD]

My name is Joseph Pineda,MD I submitted the above comment. I was asked by my family as per the prosecuting attorneys request that they would prefer that my comment above be withdrawn until after the trail is over, as to not have any untoward effect on the course of the trail. It will be fine with me and my family if it is re-instated after the whole trial is over. Thank-you in advance for your courtesy in this matter.
Joseph Pineda,MD

[C Dunn]

Well said, Dr. Pineda

[Ronnie1960]

I am sicken at the thought our own kind can do this to someone else.Over something that has no meaning but to take a life over it is so sad'

[Matt Mattresstain]

Is he aware that as long as he was in commission of a felony, the robbery, it doesn't matter if he killed anyone he is just as responsible for the murders under Texas law? Dumbass.

[Cassy]

This is an evil ,heartless man who reminds me of the devil. He does not deserve the death penalty!!! They should beat you and suffocate you. How can you kill a man of God and have no remorse!!! How does one walk into a church and do evil??? You will have to answer to God for this !!!!

[follower]

I am deeply sorry for the Dobson's family loss and pray that God will provide comfort during this extremely difficult time and the coming years. Everyone will have to stand judgement before the Lord for our actions on earth, and I can't think of a more evil and gruesome thing that was done to Clint. Even more evil and gruesome though, is the destruction that non-believers will face in Hell for eternity (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Yet let us not forget the message of the Gospel, which Clint lived out and preached. God the Father offers salvation and eternal life to all sinners (even to cowards such as Mr Nelson) if they so choose to accept and proclaim that He is Lord (John 5:24). I hurt for you and your family and will be praying for everyone affected by this horrible act.