Jury trial begins for man accused of killing uncle in watermelon field

Day one of William Harcum III’s criminal jury trial began in Wicomico County on Wednesday. The 31- year- old is accused of murdering his uncle, 62- year- old Lee Harcum last July.

The state started their opening statements on Wednesday by saying, “He beat the life out of his uncle.” However, the defense says the 31- year- old who goes by Trey, acted in a reasonable manner after fearing for his life.   

According to the state, Trey killed Lee by beating him over the head with a steel tractor pin after the two fought in their family’s watermelon field in Mardela Springs.

According to witnesses that testified Wednesday, Lee was angry about the size of the watermelons being picked.

Apparently they were too small. He threw a watermelon at the back of Trey’s head causing him to collapse to the ground face down.

Witnesses say once Trey got up, he and his uncle began fighting physically to the point where Lee was being choked. The farm hands reportedly broke it up. The two separated, but then they say Trey grabbed a tractor pin and headed in the direction of Lee over a hill.

In court Wednesday, the three farm hands that testified said the next time they saw Trey he was covered in blood with the tractor pin in his hand.

A tractor pin is about two feet long with a handle on the end. It’s cylindrical in style. When the state sat it on the witness stand, you could hear a loud thump.

The trial is set to begin again on Thursday at 9 a.m.