5-year-old could be witness

IOWA CITY - The 5-year-old grandson of a Coralville woman charged with first-degree murder told investigators that his grandmother started the fire that killed his 14-year-old cousin, a detective testified Wednesday in Johnson County Court.

During an hourlong hearing to determine whether the child is competent and capable of testifying at Lillie Williams' murder trial, set for Aug. 14, Coralville police Det. Jeffrey Barkhoff said he had contact with the child during his investigation. Barkhoff testified that the boy “started to talk about his grandmother and her starting the fire, and he started giving details about it.”

When pressed to discuss the details with investigators, Barkhoff testified, the child said he “wasn't going to talk to them because he was told to lie by his mom.”

The child and his family lived in the destroyed home at or near the time of the fire, according to Barkhoff.

Williams, 50, was arrested after police said she set fire to a house at 720 11th Ave. in Coralville on Sept. 4, causing the death of 14-year-old Raymone Bryant. Williams' cousin and her cousin's husband lived in the home that burned, according to a criminal complaint.

Williams has declared her innocence in open court, telling a judge that the murder charge is based on “all false information.”

John Hartson, a pediatric psychologist who interviewed Williams' grandson, testified Wednesday that he believes the 5-year-old is competent to testify at trial and capable of telling the truth. He did raise some concerns about the boy's “marginally impulsive” responses and displeasure with being interviewed.

Several times within the first few minutes of the interview, the boy said he wanted to go home, according to Hartson. He also expressed concern about the “suggestibility” of 5-year-olds and said he doesn't know what the child was subjected to before the interview.

The boy “did relay that his mother told him not to tell and to keep it a secret,” according to Hartson.

Kerstin Marnin, a forensic examiner for St. Luke's Child Protection Center in Cedar Rapids, also interviewed the boy and said she felt he was developmentally on target and his demeanor was appropriate, considering his age and the circumstances.

Still, according to Marnin, the child seemed agitated during the interview and “yelled some” as well.

According to an original criminal complaint, a witness identified Williams as the person who set the fatal fire. It's unknown whether the child was that person or whether there were other witnesses.

A second competency hearing will be held at a later date before a judge rules on whether the child can testify at trial. That hearing might be closed to the public, possibly depending on whether the boy takes the stand.