THE BENCH TRIAL OF A SOUTH CAROLINA MAN CHARGED IN THE STABBING DEATH OF HIS MOTHER LAST APRIL BEGAN TUESDAY IN WOODBURY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT IN SIOUX CITY.
31-YEAR-OLD PAUL BELK IS CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE FATAL STABBING OF THE WOMAN WHO ADOPTED HIM, 55-YEAR-OLD LISA BELK.
BELK IS ALSO CHARGED WITH WILLFUL INJURY FOR ALLEGEDLY STABBING HIS ADOPTED SISTER, 28-YEAR-OLD SUSAN BELK IN THE SAME INCIDENT.
SUSAN TESTIFIED THAT SHE HELPED HER BROTHER BOOK A FLIGHT TO SIOUX CITY TO VISIT, AND ON THE DRIVE UP FROM THE OMAHA AIRPORT HE ASKED ABOUT HOW TO GET A GUN.
THE NEXT DAY, APRIL 14TH, FAMILY MEMBERS GATHERED TOGETHER AT HER MOTHERS APARTMENT, SUSAN SAYS PAUL WAS RUDE TO HIS MOTHER, WOULDN’T HUG HER AND AT ONE POINT WENT TO THE KITCHEN AND GOT A KNIFE;
BELK1 OC………STAB HER IN THE BACK. . :17
SUSAN SAYS HER SISTER ZOEY GRABBED HER MOTHER AND HAD HER SIT DOWN. SHE SAYS PAUL WINKED AT HER AND SUSAN THEN TOLD HIM TO LEAVE.
AN ARGUMENT ESCALATED AND PAUL TOOK THEIR CELL PHONES AND MADE HIS MOTHER PUT HER WATCH ON HIM.
BELK2 OC……… HE STABBED HER. :22
SUSAN SAID IN CROSS EXAMINATION THAT PAUL STABBED HIS MOTHER 14 TIMES.
ZOEY BELK IS ONE OF EIGHT CHILDREN LISA AND DARREN BELK ADOPTED.
SHE ALSO GAVE EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY ABOUT HER MOTHER’S FINAL MOMENTS:
BELK3 OC……AND HE STABBED HER. ;13
NEITHER BELK’S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS NOR THE PROSECUTION MADE OPENING STATEMENTS IN THE TRIAL.
BELK WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND JUDGE JEFFREY NEARY IS PRESIDING OVER THE BENCH TRIAL.
