UPDATED: 911 Tapes Released In Bradford Trial (Day 2)

***UPDATED at 7:17 P.M. on FEBRUARY 21st***

The trial of a man accused of killing a Columbia County waste water treatment employee last April, is underway this week.

Thomas Bradford is charged in the murder of Raymond Lee.

Investigators say it happened during an argument that got out of control.

Jurors were selected Monday and Tuesday, they heard testimony from witnesses about what happened at that plant last April.

Bradford has requested a speedy trial.

Tuesday, jurors heard from 4 witnesses who took the stand.

As part of the 2^nd day in the courtroom, jurors got a closer look at what happened that fateful day last April, including those frantic 911 calls.

Jurors in the Thomas Bradford trial saw pictures from the scene and heard the frantic 911 call made by Bradford himself.

911 Tapes  (Thomas Bradford)

DISPATCH: County 911 what's your emergency?

BRADFORD: I am at the Columbia County Waste Water Plant on Stevens Creek Road

DISPATCH: What's going on sir?

BRADFORD: A man's been shot

DISPATCH: Where's the person that did the shooting? 

BRADFORD: I am right here on the phone with you

DISPATCH: You shot him?

BRADFORD: Yes

DISPATCH: Where are you located at? 

BRADFORD: I'm at the Columbia County Waste Water Plant on Stevens Creek Road

DISPATCH: What happened?

BRADFORD: We had a little altercation and it got out of hand

DISPATCH: What type of gun? Do you still have the gun in your posession?

BRADFORD: Yes, please send an ambulance quick 

DISPATCH: We got everyone on the way. I just want to keep you on the phone. Where are the plant are you?

BRADFORD: I am at the back of the plant. 

DISPATCH: Where's the person you shot?

BRADFORD: He's laying on the ground in front of me 

DISPATCH: Is he breathing?

BRADFORD: I don't know. He's not moving or anything 

Prosecutor Geoffrey Fogus told jurors the shooting wasn’t accident nor self defense, but it was because of anger towards Raymond Lee.

Witnesses say the two may have argued over the truck’s load capacity.

“We had a truck driver come in and shot my boss and shot him. He’s down at the bottom of the plant.  Someone needs to come here quick,” said witnesses.  

But defense attorney, Victor Hawk, paints a different picture and says the shooting was accidental.

Hawk says Lee and Bradford got into a scuffle. Lee then grabbed the gun and when Bradford tried to push him, Hawk says the gun went off by mistake.

Other witnesses who took the stand include a Georgia State Patrol officer who was called to the shooting, and two plant employees.

“This ain’t no April Fools. This is real,” said plant manager, Richard Haygood.

An April 1^st that many of those plant employees won’t forget anytime soon.

Lee’s family says they hope justice is served.

Count on WJBF News Channel 6 to have extensive coverage on Day 3 of the trial Wednesday, and the rest of the week. The defense attorney says it could take all week before a verdict is reached.

News Channel 6’s Archith Seshadri will be live blogging/tweeting from the courtroom all week.

You can follow him @archithseshadri and our station page @wjbf.

***UPDATED at 1:57 P.M. on FEBRUARY 21st***

A second witness to the shooting has taken the stand in the trial.

Interrogation tapes are also now being played in the courtroom.

During the interrogation, a coworker describes the scene of the shooting from April 1st.

The witness says, on the stand, he has not seen a history of arguments or violence between Bradford and Lee (nothing too serious). The witness says the altercation and shooting all happened within a couple of minutes.

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***UPDATED at 11:51 A.M. on FEBRUARY 21st***

 The trial of a Hephzibah man man accused of shooting and killing an employee at a Columbia County waste water treatment plant is underway, and Tuesday is day 2 of the trial.

Thomas Eugene Bradford, 43, is accused of pulling the trigger on 38-year-old Raymond Lee last April.

According to the Assistant District Attorney, Geoffrey Fogus, Bradford is charged on 2 counts of murder... malice murder and felony murder...as well as possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Opening statements started Tuesday morning right after 9:00 a.m.

Judge David Roper is presiding over the case...and the trial is expected to last all week.

The state opened the argument opening statements, with Fogus saying the shooting was not an accident...was not in self defense, but because of anger on Bradford's part.

Foguse showed the jury what he thinks happened that fateful day...with the gun involved in the alleged shooting.

Bradford's defense attorney, Victor Hawk, says the shooting was an accident, and says Lee and Bradford got into a physical fight. Hawk says Lee grabbed the gun...and Bradford tried to push him off and that's when the gun went off.

Bradford then called 911 after that.

The 911 call transcript is below:

Dispatch: "County 911, what's your emergency?"

Bradford: "I am at the Columbia County Waste Water Plant on Stevens Creek Road."

Dispatch: "What's going on, sir?"

Bradford: "A man's been shot."

Dispatch: "Where's the person that did the shooting?"

Bradford: "I am right here on the phone with you."

Dispatch: "You shot him?"

Bradford: "Yes."

Dispatch: "Where are you located at?"

Bradford: "I'm at the Columbia County Waste Water Plant on Stevens Creek Road."

Dispatch: "What happened?"

Bradford: "We had a little altercation and it got out of hand."

Dispatch: "What type of gun? Do you still have the gun in your possession?"

Bradford: "Yes, please send an ambulance quick."

Dispatch: "We got everyone on the way. I just want to keep you on the phone. Where are the plant are you?"

Bradford: "I am at the back of the plant."

Dispatch: "Where's the person you shot?"

Bradford: "He's laying on the ground in front of me."

Dispatch: "Is he breathing?"

Bradford: "I don't know. He's not moving, or anything."

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***UPDATED at 11:09 A.M. on FEBRUARY 21st***

 Thomas Bradford's 911 call was played to the jury Tuesday morning. Bradford calls 911 and describes the scene during the call.

According to the 911 tape, Bradford says the gun is sitting on the truck, Lee is laying on the ground, and Bradford says he's in the back of the truck. Bradford is in panic.

A Georgia State Patrol trooper took the stand. Assistant District Attorney Geoffrey Fogus, the prosecutor, asked the trooper to describe the scene. The trooper responded to the scene after hearing shots fired call, which he described as being unusual for Columbia County. The tooper says Bradford was kneeling on the ground, and says Lee was on the ground not tool far from Bradford.

Witnesses have also testified, including a Georgia State Patrol trooper and an employee at the watewater treatment plant.

The court will break for lunch in about an hour...and resume session at 2:30.

We will have the wrap-up of Day 2 during our Tuesday evening newscasts, as well as updates throughout the day on WJBF.com.

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***UPDATED at 10:22 A.M. on FEBRUARY 21st***

 Victor Hawk, Bradford's attorney, has wrapped up his opening arguments, saying the shooting was an accident and the gun fired when Bradford pushed Lee off (Lee grabbed gun, then the shots went off).

The court is taking a short break and the proceedings will resume at 10:30 a.m.

Witnesses are scheduled to testify and the 911 call from ths shooting is scheduled to be played.

WJBF News Channel 6's Archith Seshadri is in the courtroom, and we will provide updates as they become available. You can follow him on Twitter.

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***UPDATED at 10:08 A.M. on FEBRUARY 21st***

Bradford's defense attorney, Victor Hawk, just presented pictures of the truck involved.

Hawk says Lee set up a dangerous confrontation and was accidentally killed.

WJBF News Channel 6's Archith Seshadri is in the courtroom, and we will provide updates as they become available. You can follow him on Twitter.

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***POSTED at 9:47 A.M. on FEBRUARY 21st***

Day 2 of the trial of Thomas Eugene Bradford has begun. Bradford is accused of killing a Columbia County Wastewater treatment plant worker.

Tuesday morning, the prosecution is presenting their opening arguments in the trial.

The prosecution says the shooting was not self defense, or an accident, because of anger.

The shooting happened April 1, 2011. According to Columbia County Sheriff's Office investigators, the shooting occurred after an argument escalated between Bradford and the victim, Raymond Lee.

The prosecution says Bradford had arguments with Lee in the past.

WJBF News Channel 6's Archith Seshadri is in the courtroom, and we will provide updates as they become available. You can follow him on Twitter.