Originally published September 19, 2011 at 10:57 a.m., updated September 20, 2011 at 8:25 a.m.
Left to right: Billy Joe Harris, District Attorney Bobby Bell, Judge "Skipper" Koetter, Defense Lawyer Alan Cohen
EDNA - Billy Joe Harris testified for about five hours Monday, weaving tales of bestiality, aliens, transvestites and combat heroism.
Harris, the suspected Twilight Rapist, is on trial in Jackson County for sexual assault of a disabled person and has been linked to several other assaults and burglaries in Central and South Texas.
He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity because he suffers from multiple personality disorder.MORNING TESTIMONY
During morning testimony, Harris said he has four other personalities and it was one of them, David the dog, that had consensual sex with the woman here in January.
During questioning by defense attorney Alan Cohen, Harris said he was made to put on a dress and makeup at age 13 and take part in a threesome with his music teacher and a dog while her husband took photographs.
The bestiality continued after that as Harris claims he killed chickens while masturbating, had sex with a female Shetland pony and had two canine lovers - Fina, a doberman pincher and Lady, a rottweiler.
When Harris and his wife of more than 20 years divorced, he testified that he told her she couldn't have Fina.
"I loved her more than I loved my wife," he said. "I was having more sex with the dog than with my wife."
Harris later said he built an air-conditioned dog house for Lady.
Harris at times would lower his head as if sleeping for a moment, then suddenly raise it. He also twitched and shook during his time on the stand.
During his testimony, Harris also claimed extra-terrestrials removed one of his testicles because they wanted his sperm.
He also said many of the items found in his home by Texas Rangers that connect him to the break-ins were bought by the personality Bobby from a crack-addicted transvestite at a store near Crockett.
The 54-year-old Missouri City man also said the personality Thomas Simpson was learning to build bombs so he could blow up a building.
"I stopped him," Harris said. "He doesn't know how to make the bombs yet. When he does, I'll have to change my religion from Southern Baptist to Muslim, and I will be the leader of all leaders."
"Dr. Ross got him to come out," he said. "I didn't know about him."
Dr. Colin Ross is one of the expert witnesses Cohen plans to call to testify on Tuesday.
Harris also claims he ate his own feces before a visit from the state's psychiatrist on Sunday. Harris said he had been eating feces since 1976.
Harris, who worked in food service for the Texas Department of Corrections at the time of his arrest and worked in the same field in the military, said he killed thousands of Iraqi soldiers during Operation Desert Storm.
He also claimed to have thrown a grenade in a prisoner of war barbed wire compound while in Iraq.
"They were a waste of time," he said.
The proceedings were interrupted briefly during Harris' morning testimony when his attorney asked him to remove the ear plugs he was wearing.
Harris bolted upright from his seat, but was quickly restrained by the two deputies at his side.
Cohen had said last week that the earplugs were to keep Harris from hearing voices.
District Attorney Bobby Bell asked Judge Skipper Koetter to call a recess after the outburst by Harris.
"You knew that was going to happen," Bell chastised Cohen.
"I had no idea how the defendant was going to respond. End of story. I resent the comment made by the DA that it was planned," Cohen said.
Bell wasn't buying any of Harris' testimony.
During cross examination, Bell told Harris to admit to the jury that his actions and story were all an act.
"Just tell them you're making this up," Bell said.
The district attorney got Harris to admit that until his arrest, he had never told any family member or co-worker about the multiple personalities.
Under cross examination, Harris gave answers about his arrest that conflicted with the testimony given by Edna police officers who arrested him on Jan. 8. He claimed to have been shot by one of the officers.
Edna police officer Michael Yaws testified that he used a stun gun on Harris.
Bell also put Harris' military record into evidence showing he was in Saudi Arabia and never in Iraq.AFTERNOON TESTIMONY
After the lunch break, Bell asked to speak to "Bobby."
Harris lowered his head momentarily, raised it back up, rolled his neck and declared in a deep voice to be "Bobby."
Bell and Harris exchanged verbal spars with Harris at one time telling the district attorney, "You ain't worth a s***."
Cohen objected to the line of questioning and asked Koetter to have the district attorney calm down a little.
Several jurors stifled laughter during the give and take between Harris and Bell.
"It's inappropriate to look at the jury and laugh," Harris said. "Be professional."
"I'm not laughing," Bell said. "This is tragic."
Cohen objected to Bell's comment.
The two also wrangled over who was speaking when Harris was interviewed by Texas Rangers following his arrest. Harris claimed it was Bobby.
Harris turned to Koetter.
"He's trying to manipulate me. He's trying to make me say something that's not true," he said to the judge.
Koetter told him to answer the DA's questions.
Bell questioned Harris about the other rapes and break-ins he is connected with either by DNA or by recovery of stolen merchandise from his home.
In each instance, Harris denied any recollection of the crimes.
He did say that Bobby was dating one of the elderly women attacked in Yoakum.
Bell introduced records from the Veteran's Administration that said Harris showed no history of psychiatric disorder and is in good contact with reality.
Bell got Harris to admit that sometimes he can stop Bobby and David from doing bad things.
"When Bobby is doing all these things, you are right there together?" Bell asked.
"Yes sir. We are all in one," said Harris.
Testimony continues at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Jackson County Courthouse with Cohen expected to call two expert witnesses, a psychologist and a psychiatrist who examined Harris.
Comments
Anonymous el69runner says...
Maybe, if he had been wearing those ear plugs all along, he wouldn't have been hearing them voices.
Being an acft. mechanic for 26 yrs. I have severe degeneration of my hearing. I also hear voices and sounds. When I told my doctor this, his respond was "Due to the severity of your hearing loss and degeneration, the sounds you hear are vibrations of earlier sounds" I questioned this...His reply "Just like an amputee says he feels the need to scratch his leg or arm that is missing, this feeling is of his nerves, even though he has no arms or legs. That is the same feeling you are experiencing. You'll be alright as long as you don't start answering yourself"...
Posted 19 September 2011, 12:33 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous scorpio says...
What a crock that sob was a prison guard and he has seen it all and heard it all and is copping out saying he is mentally ill. I use to be a prison nurse and I have seen the cons acting like he is acting. If the prosecution would investigate him further and into the prisons he worked I would bet there are convicts claiming the same and near same personalities. He really needs to stop his insane plea and give up! He is a pervert and he knows it. He was caught. cold and caculating criminal
Posted 19 September 2011, 12:54 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous roberttx says...
this guy is a total joke
lock him up and throw away the key
Posted 19 September 2011, 2:16 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous vox says...
Somebody please tell me this is being filmed for 20/20 or Dateline or something.
Posted 19 September 2011, 2:32 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous Beakus says...
This is really too much information, especially since anyone that is old enough to read and can get the VicAd in their hand can read this junk. Please consider toning down the print version.
Posted 19 September 2011, 2:44 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous GOP_LoveChild says...
Has he been tested for that san antonio H3N8 virus (canine flu)?
Posted 19 September 2011, 3 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous MissCat says...
I find it entertaining that earplugs help the voices in his head!!
Posted 19 September 2011, 4:36 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous roberttx says...
is he up to date on his rabies shots ?
if you they find not guilty, nail him on that. also i dont see a collar, that's another fine
Posted 19 September 2011, 4:53 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous scorpio says...
If this idiot can not hold it together long enough for court but can to work as a prison guard leads one to believe he is faking it people! He lead a pretty normal life with his wife too. He never lead anyone to believe he was insane before getting linked undenialbly to all these rapes. He is a CON like the convicts that taught him how to fake it.
Posted 19 September 2011, 6:05 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous SergeantJiggler says...
Beakus, toning it down would not be reporting what happened and a disservice to the industry.
Keeping kids away from this if not fit to read this is the role of the parent or guardian. If you read the stats, kids today don't read the paper anyway.
Posted 19 September 2011, 9:13 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous EdithAnn says...
This IS toned down!
Excellent recap, again, Sonny!
Posted 19 September 2011, 9:56 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous justamom says...
Wouldn't the earplugs keep the voices in rather than out? GOP that comment had me laugh hard. Thanks for that.
Posted 19 September 2011, 11:48 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous familyman1122 says...
No evidence of the different personalities in the past. Now he has several personalities. He is faking it. Put him on trial for the crimes. Give him a court appointed lawyer and let justice take its course. Then give him life plus a day. That way he will never get out. Give him the option of death by lethal injection. This will save the government lots of money. In fact offer that option to all convicts with a life sentence or worse.
Posted 20 September 2011, 9:14 a.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous fatguy says...
Ok people calm down. His goofy defense might work in New York, Chicago or some other big city but this is a jury of rural and small town common sense folks.
Jackson County has a well known reputation to be a place you do not want to screw around with the law because they don't give soft plea bargains there.
This is all theater for a jury thats not buying any of it. DA Bell has things well in hand.
Posted 20 September 2011, 9:28 a.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous cafevida says...
Well maybe when he gets put in an institution and/or prison he can have a buffet of everyone bring your own feces. This comes to show he is full of sh*'!! He wasn't even faithful to his animals. Really sad they were not quick enough to run the other way!! Extra terrestials should have removed your penis as well you dumb ass. David the Dog, Bobby, Thomas Simpson or Billy Joe Harris do us all a favor "Eat sh*' and die" you worthless SOB!!!!
Posted 20 September 2011, 9:34 a.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous el69runner says...
I seriously doubt you or any of the judge n jury actually believe this individual has been eating feces since 1976.
Eating feces can greatly increase one's risk of parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections and make you very sick.
Shigella, campylobacter, salmonella and E.coli are four bacteria commonly present in fecal matter. These bacteria, along with parasites like amoebas and giardia, can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, bloody stools, fever, nausea and vomiting. The viruses Hepatitis A and E may also be transmitted through contact with fecal matter
You have to give credit to Defense Lawyer Alan Cohen for being creative or how backwards does he really think the judge and jury are?
Posted 20 September 2011, 10:24 a.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous baylee says...
Our students read the paper at school. This too graphic for them.
Posted 20 September 2011, 12:56 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous moneyman says...
WOOF WOOF WHAT A BUNCH OF BS both his lawyer and the defendant need to go to the jail house his lawyer might be thinking that this will work but give the jury credit they are not a bunch of duhhhhss
Posted 20 September 2011, 2:37 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous artramirez says...
HARRIS AND HIS ATTORNEY ARE A COMPLETE FRAUD.
BY THEIR ACTIONS THEY RE ROBBING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY THAT FUND THEIR COURTROOM CIRCUS!
EATING POOP WILL MAKE A PERSON DEATHLY ILL.
THE REST OF HARRIS TESTIMONY IS ALL BOGUS, PLAINLY.
BOTH ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE JUDGE AND JURY EAT THEIR POOP!
Posted 20 September 2011, 6:17 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous scorpio says...
OK he was ex military who was found perfectly sane. He worked as a prison guard. Had a 20 year marriage and has a recent marriage. He never popped in and out of personalities before now? GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! This idiot is faking it so badly! I hope he gets the death sentence. Life in prison is too good for him!
Posted 20 September 2011, 6:44 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous HWY111 says...
Seems like a simple medical exam would prove if aliens really took one of his testicles.
Posted 20 September 2011, 8:11 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous anonyme says...
This is making national news. It was featured on FARK.com today. Also - why does the screen jump up and down and ask me things about Google maps on this website?!
Posted 20 September 2011, 9:12 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous EdithAnn says...
The left nut is indeed missing. The US government took it, not an alien.
By the way--this 'disability' gets him an $1100.00/month check.
Posted 20 September 2011, 9:20 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous victorianbybirth says...
Why did the government take it? Why does he get $1100 a month for it's absence? That's insane...he's being paid way more than it's worth!
Posted 20 September 2011, 9:23 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous EdithAnn says...
It was removed due to a 'strain'.
He claimed that the aliens took it as part of an experiment, which was apparently successful according to Harris. He said they did not come back for the other one.
Posted 20 September 2011, 9:29 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous victorianbybirth says...
How does one strain a testicle? I don't have them so I am curious.
Posted 20 September 2011, 10:11 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous Writein says...
Mad men they locked up, mad dogs they shoot.
Posted 20 September 2011, 10:35 p.m. Suggest removal
Anonymous JLordtree says...
I could have gone a long time and not read any of this stuff and been find. Could totally have used a warning to not be eating lunch and reading this story. Thanks vicad....choc. pie and this story really dont mix.
Posted 21 September 2011, 10 a.m. Suggest removal