HOUSTON – The son of a slain pastor's wife took the stand Friday in the murder trial against the pastor's mistress.
Rev. Tracy Burleson's wife, Pauletta, was shot to death at their home on Greenloch Lane near Greenrock Lane in northeast Harris County on May 18, 2010.
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Prosecutors said Tracy Burleson paid his son, William Darnell Fuller, 21, $2,000 to kill Pauletta Burleson.
Detectives said Tracy Burleson's mistress was also in on the killing. Tyonne Palmer, 32, was charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence.
Pauletta Burleson's son, John Ross, told the jury that his mother did not abuse him or his stepbrother, Fuller. Fuller previously told the jury that Pauletta and Tracy Burleson beat him.
Ross is currently in jail, for the fourth time, on drug possession charges.
Earlier in the trial, Fuller became agitated during the testimony and began yelling and pointing at Palmer.
Palmer's attorney, Anthony Osso, asked for a mistrial and it was later granted, but he withdrew that request and the judge determined that the trial would resume.
Fuller took the stand the next day, made several outbursts again and used profanity.
"It seems like certain things that occur in the courtroom, questions that are asked, if he does or doesn't like the question it triggers an unruly response," Osso said. "He gets off track a little bit, and he's not an easy witness. I think that's saying it mildly."
Osso said he may move to strike Fuller's testimony from the record because of his behavior.
Tracy Burleson was convicted of capital murder in September.