State Calls Jailhouse Informants To Testify In Camm Trial

By James Zambroski

(BOONVILLE, Ind., Feb. 8th, 2006) -- Testimony continued Wednesday in the second triple murder trial of David Camm, charged with killing his wife, Kim and their two children, Brand and Jill. Three of Camm's former cellmates took the stand, testifying that Camm told them details about the murders. WAVE 3 Investigator James Zambroski has more.

The testimony of the three informants -- a convicted murderer, a convicted rapist and a convicted burglar -- took center stage Wednesday.

Two of them said Camm told them details about the murders. Inmate Donald Forrester testified about a conversation he allegedly had with Camm after Camm was arrested for his family's murders. "He said 'I can still hear my son saying 'Daddy, Daddy! Help me, please!'"

The defense says it's a total lie.

Camm's attorney, Katherine Liell, says "He always told them that he did not do this, that somebody else had done it, and that he believed that whoever was the owner of the gray sweatshirt -- whoever 'Backbone' was -- was the killer."

Forrester has a long record as serial rapist. He told the jury he has cancer and that he was previously treated for mental illness -- a fact that Camm's defense team made sure to highlight.

"Mr. Forrester is heavily medicated on morphine and Dave Camm did not hang out with Mr. Forrester," Liell said. "They were never friends. That's why I described it as an acquaintence."

James Hatton testified he spoke with Camm over a two-month period. He says Camm told him he killed his family because "he got mad that his wife was going to leave" and that "he moved the bodies so that there would be the reason there was blood on his shirt."

The defense response: Hatton is a serial snitch, who has given police information on three murder cases. "He keeps on trying, I'll say that," Liell said. "He hasn't been sprung loose yet, but he still gives it the effort of perserverance."

When we asked Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson why Camm would steadfastly maintain his innocence for 5-1/2 years to everyone except his cellmates, he replied: "You'll have to ask David Camm. I think prison's a lonely place. They talk about a lot of things."

Jeremy Bullock, the convicted murderer, actually shed tears when asked on the stand why he came forward to testify. He was the only jailhouse informant to look directly at Camm while he testified.

Online Reporter: James Zambroski

Online Producer: Michael Dever