McKay and his fellow assistant States Attorney Russell Baker would hammer at the same points in their closing and rebuttal closing arguments Wednesday. Bickham Sr. had absolutely no blood splatter or glass shards on his body or clothes, despite Bickham’s contention that he was either leaning over and touching Alexander or mere inches away at the moment the first bullet shattered the car window and struck her.
He did, however, have gunshot residue on the back of his left hand.
The closing arguments were intense and at times personal between the attorneys.
Russell Baker analogized the murder scheme to a theatrical or movie production, one he said the senior Bickham controlled.
Bickham Jr. and Taylor, he said, were the father’s “cast of killers.”
Both sides agreed that Bickham was immoral and a liar who deceived his wife and more than a dozen girlfriends, with whom he had six children.
Clancy characterized the prosecution’s theory of the crime as “stupid,” and argued the jury needed to set aside any moral disdain and judge Bickham Sr. on the evidence, which, he insisted, did not implicate the father in Alexander’s murder.
But McKay and Baker relentlessly attacked the father’s honesty and credibility as evidence of his untrustworthiness.
“The defendant is presumed to be innocent,” McKay said. “He is not presumed honest.”
“This man, who has been lying all his adult life, can you trust him?”