Columbia man found guilty of murder in 2013 killing

A Columbia man was found guilty of murder Friday for his role in the 2013 killing of Brian Daniels.

James Thompson was accused of plotting Daniels’ murder in his home on Cimarron Drive in south Columbia.

Closing arguments began Friday morning.

The state’s attorney said Thompson was not Brian Daniels’ friend, caretaker, or lover, like Thompson claimed on the stand. She also said Thompson manipulated Daniels and then killed him for his money.

She said Daniels was scared of Thompson, and Thompson had tampered with Daniels’ home security system, all in an attempt to kill him.

After, Thompson’s attorney said to jurors the state had no factual evidence, and they can’t convict Thompson on inferences, presumptions, and assumptions from the state.

The defense said there’s no evidence that Thompson cut the wires to make it not work. He said the state is assuming Thompson did it.

James Thompson took the stand Thursday morning. During direct examination, Thompson said he walked into Brian Daniel’s home and “found the body.”

The State also mentioned that Thompson has not shown any emotion during the trial or during interviews with police. The State also brought up how Thompson drove by several times asking about the will. They say Thompson googled how to deactivate security systems and even cyanide.

While on the stand, Thompson explained his relationship with Brian Daniels, saying “I was a caretaker, I was a lover, I was a boyfriend, I was a house keeper. I mean I was a lot of different things for Brian.”

More details emerged about the alleged gunman’s arrest Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a deputy from Oklahoma testified about arresting Casey Lewis, after his landlord in Oklahoma found a gun stashed behind his home. Detectives from Columbia later went to Oklahoma to pick up Lewis and the .22 handgun.

ADT representatives also confirmed the batteries were removed and the wires were cut from the security system before Daniels was shot. One investigator with Liberty Mutual insurance said Thompson reported his vehicle stolen, which was the same white Grand AM Lewis was driving when he was stopped in Oklahoma.

A friend of Thompson’s took the stand and admitted to loaning Thompson the car Casey Lewis was in when he was pulled over in Oklahoma. The friend also recalled Thompson talking about a previous encounter with Brian Daniels. Thompson said, “I had the gun in my hand, but I couldn’t do it.”

Detectives at Columbia Police also testified regarding Thompson’s cell phone location. Thompson claims he was not in Columbia the night of Daniels’ murder, but cell towers placed him there.

Right before the state rested, they played a video where a detective interviewing Thompson. Thompson’s story has been inconsistent since the start and changed several times during that hour and a half long interview.

32 witnesses testified on Tuesday. Columbia detectives said they found no other sign of a burglary other than a ripped screen door. Columbia police said Thompson drove by multiple times while they were at the house after the homicide.

Thompson claimed police treated him unfairly because of his lifestyle choices. Three witnesses said Thompson referred to himself as Daniels’ caretaker, which is inconsistent to other statements saying they were in a relationship.

Thompson apparently asked a pawn store owner about purchasing an Uzi, as well as other handguns. A friend of Thompson’s, Glen Anderson, said Thompson told him to lie to the police for him. Anderson admitted Thompson told him he paid Casey Lewis 10,000 dollars to kill Daniels.

Anderson lied to police and said he did not know anything about Daniels’ death, but claimed he used to be a heavy drinker and his memory was bad to explain why his stories were inconsistent. Anderson still faces four years in jail. The state said they will consider his testimony if he tells the truth.

Thompson is also accused of forging a will naming himself as Daniels’ beneficiary.