Skip to main content.
Related sites:
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
Web religionnewsblog.com
Home | Site Menu | About RNB | RNB Store | Cult FAQ | Cult Experts | Apologetics Index | Cult Information Search Engine
Alexander Taylor, George Davis:

Cult figure killed by Napa man, defense says

Napa Valley Register, USA
Mar. 24, 2008
Marsha Dorgan
www.napavalleyregister.com
  • Article Tools  • Share This Story

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 20946 • Posted: Tuesday March 25, 2008  

Click here... More articles on this topic: Alexander Taylor, George Davis

The trial of a young Napa man accused of shooting an elderly male acquaintance in 2007 got under way Monday with opening statements from defense attorney Jess Raphael and Napa County Deputy District Attorney Gary Van Camp.

Van Camp told the jury of 12 that Alex Taylor, 26, deliberately and intentionally shot George Davis, 62, on April 22, 2007, at Davis’ home in a retirement apartment complex on Redwood Road.

Raphael repeatedly stressed to the jury that Davis, who taught Taylor and others about witchcraft and ran a cult of sorts, had a “hold” over Taylor and used his “powers” to control him.

Taylor has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but Van Camp said Taylor should be held responsible.

“The defendant shot the victim five times at the victim’s apartment. He left the apartment, changed his clothes and hid the weapon in a shed,” Van Camp said.

“He’s blaming his mental illness and his ruined military career for this,” Van Camp said. “Mr. Taylor owed money to the victim.”

Van Camp also told the jury that Davis had talked about suicide and suggested Taylor assist in him ending his life.

Both Van Camp and Raphael noted to the jury that Davis practiced witchcraft and had several young people sign a contract stating that Davis had power over their lives.

Taylor told investigators that he believed Davis could put a curse on a person’s life, said Raphael, a deputy in the Napa County Public Defenders Office.

Although jurors saw pictures Davis had of men without their shirts on, Raphael stated that none of the men associated with Davis said he made any sexual advances toward them.

Since Taylor has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, his trial will have two phases. He first will be tried by a jury that will determine if Taylor is guilty of murder. If Taylor is found guilty, the same jury will listen to mere evidence to decide if he was sane at the time of the killing.

The trial is expected to last about six weeks.

If found guilty, Taylor is facing 25 years to life in prison.

Napa County Superior Judge Ray Guadagni is presiding over the trial.

Davis’ body was discovered by another acquaintance. The man called 911 after finding Davis in the bedroom with gunshot wounds to his head. Taylor showed up at the apartment some time later and consented to be interviewed at the police station. He was arrested after the interview.

Technorati Tags: ,

Religion News Blog RSS feed Subscribe: Religion News Blog RSS feed  |  Religion News Blog RSS feed Subscribe by topic: Alexander Taylor, George Davis
more cult news articlemore religion news More articles about Alexander Taylor, George Davis

Like this story?

Today's Most Popular Articles

Doctor Says...

Share this

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:




Article and Site Tools

» PermaLink to: Cult figure killed by Napa man, defense says
   Need a shorter link? You can remove everything after the final /
» More news articles + news archive on Alexander Taylor, George Davis
» More religion and cult news

Subscribe (RSS / Email) [What is RSS?]
» RSS News Feed - All Topics: Religion News Blog RSS Feed
» RSS News Feed - Single Topic: Alexander Taylor, George Davis
» Headlines by Email: Daily Religion News Blog Headlines

More Article Tools
• Bookmark / Tag: Del.icio.us
• Bookmark / Tag: Furl
Save this article
Email this article
Print this article [Temporarily out of order]

More Information
Books about Alexander Taylor
Relevant books (and other goodies)

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.