Steve Jefferson/Eyewitness News
Martinsville - Defense attorneys in the trial for the man accused in the murder of Indiana University student Jill Behrman are introducing the possibility of another suspect. On Thursday a man she worked with was questioned.
After allegations from attorney's defending suspect John Myers II, Brian Hollars took the witness stand to clear his name.
Defense attorneys for John Myers say prosecutors lack the evidence to tie their client to Jill Behrman's death. They even hinted at Behrman's former coworker Hollars as an alternative suspect. Hollars left the courthouse without talking to reporters about taking the witness stand to clear his name.
"I don't know if Brian Hollars is involved. We are not here to solve this case. We are defending John Myers and that's what we are doing," said Patrick Baker, defense attorney.
Baker and his father are defending Myers against allegations he murdered Jill Behrman in May 2000. That's when the Bloomington resident disappeared while riding her bike. In court Thursday morning, Hollars took the stand and later answered a series of questions from jurors. Even prosecutors found those questions interesting.
"As you heard from some of the questions - have you ever beaten your wife; have you ever been violent or angry," said Steve Sonnega, Morgan County prosecutor.
Homicide investigators and a grand jury cleared Hollars, but it didn't keep him from appearing in court and answering questions about his 12-gauge shotgun. "He does the hunter safety. He doesn't carry his gun loaded. He is very responsible. That is the right to bear arms and there are a lot of people. That does not make him a criminal," said Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega.
Sonnega called the defense's line of questioning a smokescreen for Myers. "Another way of trying to take the jury's eye off the ball. It's our job to try to put it back on the ball and with that I am going to go back to work," Sonnega said.
In 2003 investigators located Behrman's Canondale bike, which was entered as part of the evidence. But defense attorneys say even with part of Jill's remains located, no evidence points to their client.
"This is a completely circumstantial case," said Baker.
Either way, the defense has not decided if John Myers will take the witness stand in his own defense.
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