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Dixon murder trial continues

Hannah Hipp
Joseph Sonnier IV choked up as he recounted to the jury about when he called his brother
and told him their father had been murdered.
Sonnier took the stand Monday during the first day of the capital murder trial of Thomas
Michael Dixon.
Dixon has been accused of hiring David Shepard, a former business partner, to murder
Dr. Joseph Sonnier, Dixons attorney, Dan Hurley, said.
Dr. Sonnier, father of Sonnier IV, was romantically linked with Dixons former girlfriend,
Richelle Shetina, Sonnier IV said.
Police contacted Sonnier IV on July 11, 2012, he said, after his father had been murdered.
Hes the most honorable man Ive ever known, Sonnier said. He just struggled with
how to end a relationship.
Shetina had been pushing for an engagement ring when she was with Dr. Sonnier,
Sonnier IV said, and left the father when he said he wasnt ready for marriage.
Lubbock County prosecutor Sunshine Stanek gave an opening statement, and told the
jury that this is a case about love, jealousy, anger and rage.
The case involves a love triangle, she said, and Dixon wanted something he couldnt
have, which led to his unspeakable actions.
Dixon, an Amarillo plastic surgeon had a new girlfriend at the time of Dr. Sonniers
murder, Hurley said, and had his life in order.
He had no reason to hire Shepard for the murder, Hurley said.
Shepard, on the other hand, was mentally unstable, Hurley said, and his life was going
down the toilet.
Dixons first marriage ended when he had an affair with Shetina, Hurley said, but an
impatient Shetina soon left Dixon for a wealthy Dr. Joseph Sonnier.
Shepard then began to give Dixon ideas on how to get even with Shetina, Hurley said, but
Shepard soon became obsessed and took the idea to the point of murder.
Becky Sherman, who testified Monday, worked for Sonnier doing landscape work, she
said.
When arriving to work on July 11, 2012, she noticed a broken window in the back of
Sonniers house, she said, and the man working with her went into the house to look for
Sonnier.
The man found Sonniers body in the garage, she said, surrounded by a pool of dried
blood.
Sonnier had been shot six times and stabbed repeatedly in the back, Hurley said.
Shepard plead guilty to the murder previous to this trial, he said.
Wednesday, the third day of the trial, saw the cross examination of Sergeant Perez. Perez
said he took photos of Shepard the night of his arrest.
These photos, revealing cuts on Shepards body, were shown to the jury as evidence.
Photos of Shepards car were also shown, revealing a whiskey bottle in his front seat and
a knife with a case.
The trial will resume Thursday at 9 a.m.

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