Murder trial begins | News, sports, jobs

Robert Lee Tennant, 65, is charged with first-degree murder in the April 10, 2023, shooting death of his brother Edward Tennant during a land dispute on Smokehouse Road in Tucker County. Tennant is currently being held without bail at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

Tennant is represented by James Hawkins Jr. of Harrison County and Brent Easton of Tucker County. The case is being prosecuted by Tucker County Prosecutor Savannah Hull Wilkins.

In jury selection Tuesday, Judge James W. Courrier Jr. told potential jurors that if they found Tennant guilty of the charge, they would have to decide whether to grant him clemency or no clemency given the first-degree murder charge .

The murder trial was scheduled to begin today in Tucker County Circuit Court.

Robert Lee Tennant (left) is shown with one of his defense attorneys, James Hawkins Jr. (right), during jury selection for his first-degree murder trial this week.

Because there is no death penalty in West Virginia, the punishment for serious crimes such as first-degree murder is in the form of clemency, which means a chance for parole, or “no mercy,” which means there is no chance of parole , granted.

According to the criminal complaint, on April 10, 2023, authorities with the Tucker County Sheriff's Department and West Virginia State Police responded to a call reporting that Tennant had shot his brother.

When officers arrived on scene, they found Robert Tennant across a creek and ordered him to speak to them, the complaint states. He complied and was immediately taken into custody before being taken to the sheriff's office for questioning.

According to the complaint, Tennant told police he saw his brother on a telephone pole and drove his John Deere tractor to where his brother was to confront him and ask him what he was doing. He said the two argued over the property and then he pulled out a .22-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun and shot his brother three times.

Tennant allegedly told officers he shot his brother because he was a police officer “Uh-“ and that he had been planning this for days. When officers asked him if he would check on his brother after he was shot, he allegedly told them he had not. The complaint states that when police also asked him if he was sorry for what he had done, Tennant told them: “No, I got the monkey off my shoulder.”

After the shooting, according to the complaint, Tennant went to his home, contacted 911 and told them what happened. When asked if he felt threatened or scared, he allegedly told officers that he did not.