Donovan Williams trial continues

It was another day in a Pitt County courtroom, for Donovan Williams.

Investigators accuse Williams of shooting at an interracial couple in the early morning hours of February 15th.

The defense called a number of character witnesses this afternoon like William’s brother, a long time friend, and his children's grandmother.

For the last few days Williams has calmly sat back and listened to testimony but today, the defense called him to the stand to speak.

Williams claimed, "The whole world wants to convict me of this."

Just as Jovan Hodge did the day before, on Thursday defendant Donovan Williams walked jury members through surveillance video of that February night

Williams said, “I made it real clear that if he wanted to fight we could take it there.”

Williams claims his run in with Hodge was a case of mistaken identity.

“At the time I thought that he was a guy I knew by the name of Jamal Green,” he said.

Green is someone Williams claims a girl friend of his had cheated on him with.

Williams admitted that he had been drinking that day and to having the gun but says he only had it because he was trying to sell it to his long time friend Marcus Barrett.

Barrett said, “He had asked me if I wanted to purchase it and I asked him not to point it at me and he didn’t actually point it at me, but not to point it my way.”

Both Williams and Barrett said it had no bullets.

Barrett and other witnesses called by the defense say they had never heard Williams use derogatory language when talking about African Americans.

Williams said he was not a white supremacist and was not affiliated with any white supremacist organizations.

He would not admit to having marijuana on him at the time of his arrest but did say he had taken prescription pills that day.

Williams also admitted that he should not have been carrying a gun because of previous felony charges.

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The defense has called a number of character witnesses to the stand this afternoon including Williams' brother, a long time friend and his children's grandmother.

Marcus Barrett, who said he has known Williams around twelve years said Williams came by his house on the night of February 14 (the incident between Williams and Hodge hapened early morning of February 15th) and asked if he wanted to buy the gun reportedly used in the shooting but he declined.

Barrett also said Williams did not seem drunk at the time.

Barrett, who is African American, said he has never heard Williams say anything derogetory to him or about other African Americans.

Williams brother and grandmother also said they have never heard him belittle African Americans.

Right now Williams is on the stand we will have a full update for you tonight at 6

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Detective Curtis Lieberman with the Greenville Police Department just finished his testimony that started yesterday.

The defense again tried to raise doubt about if and who many have fired the round at the car Hodge was driving.

Detective Lieberman said no shell casing was found at the scene, and that no ballistics tests were performed on the gun nor was there an attempt to measure the size of the bullet hole in the car door or to dig the round out of the car. Lieberman said in his opinion it appeared to be a .22 caliber round and said the next biggest round would be a .223 which, he says, would have left a much bigger hole in the car.

Over the last two day, the defense has also tried to raise doubt about the "vegetable material" that was found at the scene. Police who have testified say thet judging by the texture, smell, and looks it appears to be marijuana but no tests were done to confirm that.

Following the conclusion of his cross examination, the state rested their case.