Murder trial set for Thursday

PNT staff reports

The murder-for-hire trial of Roosevelt County farmer William “Billy Joe” Watson is scheduled to begin with opening arguments 9 a.m. Thursday in the Roosevelt County Courthouse.

Watson is accused of hiring Rogers native Donald Taylor — a member of what authorities call the race-based criminal group Aryan Brotherhood — to kill Causey rancher Jimmy “Bo” Chunn in 2005. In October, Taylor pled guilty to charges that included shooting Chunn.

District Attorney Matt Chandler said jury selection took place Monday and Tuesday, and the trial is expected to last about two weeks.