WEST VIRGINIA - Testimony begins in Anderson murder trial....

OFF THE WIRE
PARKERSBURG - After a day of jury selection, testimony began Wednesday in Wood County Circuit Court in the murder trial of John Eugene Anderson.
In May 2010, Anderson was charged with the March 24 stabbing death of Willard Rex Wright, 68, in his Ann Street apartment.
James Richard Claypool II testified for the state to his meeting and conversations with Anderson in the Washington County Jail where Anderson was incarcerated after his arrest in connection with Wright's murder.
Claypool, who was a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, said he was introduced to Anderson by a man named Jimmy, who claimed to be Anderson's nephew.
"He asked me to talk to him," Claypool said. "He (Anderson) told me he killed someone and he said he had it coming."
Claypool testified Anderson said Wright touched his girlfriend's daughter, but did not mention their names.
When asked by Wood County Prosecutor Jason Wharton if Anderson meant Wright, Claypool said he never heard the name before, adding he did not know anything about the case before meeting Anderson.
Later he said he saw Anderson's face on television but he was not in range to hear anything. He added he did not read any account of what happened in a newspaper or any other source.
Claypool said Anderson asked him questions about legal matters as to what the police would look for and if they could test what they found. He said Anderson was also concerned that police had the cell phone he said he used because it might have blood on it.
"He asked about what would happen if something happened to witnesses," he said. "He asked me if I could do something and if he couldn't pay if he could do me favors in jail or out of jail."
Under cross examination by one of Anderson's attorneys, Joe Munoz, Claypool said he never intended to do anything to any of the witnesses.
Claypool also disclosed he pleaded guilty in December 2009 to a federal charge of obstruction of justice with injury to an informant to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He said as a member of the Pagans he was the sergeant at arms and his duties were as an enforcer of club policy and collecting dues.
Claypool said he left the club after his plea.
Claypool said he told his attorney about Anderson in a letter and was questioned later by Parkersburg Police. When asked why he wrote to his attorney about Anderson, Claypool said he had concerns about Anderson.
"I didn't like his demeanor and he wanted witnesses killed," he said. "He would laugh and grin about what he did. He talked about how he pinched Wright's oxygen line, made a motion like he strangled him, stabbed him and said 'I d-- near cut his head off.'"
Claypool said his decision to inform on Anderson would not help with his federal charges but he hoped it would show a state judge he had turned over a new leaf by cooperating with the state.
Testimony is set to resume today at 9 a.m. before Judge Robert Waters.

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