A mentor, an exceptional co-worker and very neighborly: That’s how defense witnesses portrayed James Wells during his double murder trial Friday morning.
It was the second day Wells’ defense team presented their case to the jury. Wells is accused of shooting and killing 41-year-old James Hopkins and 51-year-old Richard Belisle at the Kodiak Island Coast Guard base two years ago. All three men worked together at the rigger shop on base.
Jonathan Musman said he considered Wells a mentor. The two met in 2002 while Musman was stationed in Juneau. Musman, a Coast Guard commander, said he and Wells would spend a week at a time in remote locations working on engineering projects. Because of their working conditions, Musman testified their relationship gradually moved from professional to personal. He said the last time he saw Wells was in Palmer, two weeks before the murders. They met up for breakfast while Wells was waiting to take a ferry back to Kodiak, he said. Life was good for Wells and he had no complaints about work, Musman said.
When prosecutors asked Musman if he knew about Wells being reprimanded for bad behavior, such as stealing gas and unethical conduct, Musman said he did not.
Another Coast Guard commander, Greg Tlapa, testified he met Wells in 1999 while in Juneau and, like Musman, became a personal friend. The two eventually ended up working together in Kodiak when Tlapa was stationed there. Tlapa said Wells was an exceptional worker and nominated him for a award, which he said Wells won. He said he was unaware whether Wells had any anger issues or a reputation for violence.
During cross examination, Tlapa said the last time he saw Wells was in 2011 in Washington, D.C. and contact between the two diminished afterwards. When asked about Wells’ reprimands for bad behavior, Tlapa said he had no knowledge.
Gary Carver portrayed Wells as very neighborly. He said their families would spend lots of time together in Kodiak. The two didn’t talk much about work and when Wells did, Carver said it was never negative. When asked by prosecutors about any insights into Wells’ work at the rigger shop, Carver said he had none.
The court went into recess after Carver’s testimony due to witnesses who missed their flight out of Kodiak.
Court is scheduled to resume Friday afternoon.