JACKSON, Miss. — A Mississippi prosecutor denies trying to intimidate or coach testimony from a witness in the case of a man accused of killing a woman by setting her on fire, saying he never believed the inmate’s story.
District Attorney John Champion, testifying Monday, said Jalen Caudle told him about the suspect, Quinton Tellis.
Champion says he didn’t violate rules by talking to Caudle without his lawyer because he was there to talk to Caudle as a witness against Tellis, who’s accused of killing 19-year-old Jessica Chambers in 2014.
Tellis’ first trial ended in a hung jury and he’s scheduled for retrial.
Witnesses testified Chambers said “Eric” attacked her. Tellis’ lawyer alleges Champion tried to coach Caudle into testifying that Chambers called Tellis “Eric.” Champion says Caudle offered that statement freely and Champion didn’t believe Caudle.
