Jury selection begins in Lake County man's murder trial

Donald Williams representing himself

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Jury selection has started on Monday in the trial for the man accused of kidnapping and killing an elderly woman in Lake County in 2010.

Donald Williams is representing himself in the trial with no lawyer after he fired his public defender in April. Williams was caught on surveillance video leaving a Leesburg Publix with 81-year-old Janet Patrick, who he had just met. About a week later, police found Patrick's body in Poinciana woods.

Williams said he was present when Patrick was murdered in the woods but says someone else did it, calling it a carjacking. He said while Patrick was giving him a ride home another man carjacked the two of them, tied them up and locked them in the trunk. The gunman then beat Patrick and forced Williams to dispose of her body, he said.

Williams has filed a notice with the court that he plans to rely on an insanity defense. But many jurors questioned how Williams can argue insanity, yet represent himself.

Watch Local 6 news for more on this story.


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