Granger's sentencing phase testimony marred by another outburst

GALVESTON - Bartholomew Granger's first time on the stand in the sentencing phase of his six-week trial was as short as his temper.

Against his attorneys' advice, Granger testified before jurors Monday afternoon only to again argue with lead prosecutor Ed Shettle and Jefferson County District Court Judge Bob Wortham.

Granger, 42, was found guilty of murdering Minnie Ray Sebolt, of Deweyville, in front of the Beaumont courthouse the morning of March 14, 2012.

He also shot and wounded his daughter, Samantha Jackson, and her mother, Claudia Jackson, prior to taking employees at a nearby business hostage.

The former truck driver was on trial for sexual assault of a child at the time of the shootings. Claudia and Samantha Jackson had testified against him the day before and were returning to the courthouse when Granger went to his car and retrieved a gun.

He insisted that he meant to shoot Samantha and her mother, but not Sebolt, and it was Beaumont police that may have killed the 79-year-old woman.

Granger's third outburst of the trial began when Shettle asked him to read from a 1984 Beaumont Independent School District report.

The report contained a comment about Granger's "numerous behavioral problems," which Shettle asserted had a connection to the attack.

As he had done throughout the proceedings, the convicted shooter denied he killed Sebolt and labeled the guilty verdict "unfair."

He proceeded to rant about the punishment phase, stating "it is a lynching of another n*****."

Judge Wortham scolded Granger for using profanity.

"This is not a telephone call," the judge said. "This is a trial of law."

The members of the jury were present during the tirade, and heard Granger use racially derogatory terms to describe them. He called the 11 white jurors "crackers" and the lone black juror a variety of racial slurs.

At one point during the proceedings, Granger taunted Shettle, blowing kisses at the prosecutor and using vulgar terms.

Judge Wortham called a recess of more than 15 minutes, but Granger returned only to continue his verbal attacks.

His counsel rested its case as he quoted Patrick Henry in reference to his choice of punishment: life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

"Give me liberty or give me death," Granger yelled.