Parks trial witness says defendant admitted to killing stepfather

http://ktlo.com/wire/newsfri/07180_PARKS_TRIAL-FIFTH_DAY_170656.php

By: Ray Dean Davis

A prosecution witness in the Gary Parks capital murder trial testified today that Parks admitted to killing his stepfather, Dr. David Millstein, in June of 2006. However, the statement wasn't made when the witness was interviewed shortly after the murder, leading defense attorneys to question the validity of the statement.

Enoch Miller of Little Rock, who said he was one of Gary Parks' best friends in June of 2006, said Parks told him about four days after the murder that he had done it. Miller said he told Parks he didn't want to be brought into the case and asked, "Why are you telling me this?" He said Parks replied,

"What would you do if someone was hurting your mother?"

Miller said Parks explained by saying his mother had invested money into Dr. Millstein's practice and business was falling off. He said Parks then told him he was at Millstein's house when he "lost it," went into a rage and stabbed the doctor as he lay asleep.

Miller said he told Parks, "I don't want to know this stuff."

On cross examination, defense attorney Danny Glover pointed out that Miller had given a statement to investigators soon after the murder and hadn't mentioned Parks' confession at that time.

Miller said at the time he didn't want to feel like a narc. He said he later talked to his father, who is a minister, and also spoke with a friend. He said they convinced him that he would have to live with whatever decision he made about his information.

Miller said he was in court today because he know it was the right thing to do.

Glover asked Miller if Mountain Home Police Department Investigator Nevin Barnes had given him some money and had helped him out with legal troubles of his own when he was charged with driving on a suspended license in Flippin. Miller said Barnes had helped him pay the fine with money out of his own pocket. He denied that the investigator had gotten involved with any of his other legal matters.

Miller also admitted that in 2006 he abused narcotics.

Miller also agreed to wear a hidden microphone on some occasions when he was around Parks.
Among the other six witnesses who testified for the prosecution today was Alan Gwin, also of Little Rock. Gwin testified that about two weeks prior to Dr. Millstein's murder Gary Parks asked him what he would think about killing someone for a large amount of money.

Again, Attorney Glover pointed out that Gwin had not included that information in his statement to investigators shortly after the murder. Gwin said he hadn't been asked for that specific information and hadn't volunteered it.

The prosecution hasn't finished with its witnesses yet and will offer more testimony in the case Monday. Sometime next week the defense will begin presenting its case.