Moyer

A silent courtroom in the Limestone County Judicial Center became dotted with quiet sobs Friday morning as District Judge James Woodroof Jr. read the jury’s fate for accused murderer Joel Moyers — convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole.

Prior to the verdict, Moyers, who is originally from Cullman, sat stoic in a wheelchair, his face covered by an oxygen mask. He was, however, able to approach the bench with his defense attorneys after Woodroof asked if Moyers was able to come forward.

Woodroof asked Moyers if he understood the verdict and the sentence, and he acknowledged that he did.

Two rows back in the courtroom, family and friends of Brandon Hydrick — the man shot and killed by Moyers in September 2012 — quietly sobbed after the verdict was announced.

After Moyers was wheeled from the courtroom to a waiting sheriff’s office vehicle, Hydrick family members and supporters sat on a bench outside the courtroom and wept. They then embraced in a group hug and cried together.

Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones said he would comment later on the verdict, but that he first “needed a minute” to collect his thoughts.

Prosecutors said, and ultimately proved, Moyers intentionally fired a round from a semiautomatic rifle into the tailgate of Hydrick’s vehicle in the early morning hours of Sept. 29, killing him. Brandon and his brother Ryan, his girlfriend Bronwen Murray, and two other friends had earlier been enjoying a bonfire, bratwurst and beer at a campsite on property owned by Murray’s family near Piney Creek in southern Limestone County the night of Sept. 28.

The defense argued Moyers “reflexively” fired after the truck in which Brandon was riding brushed to close to Moyers, who had tried to stop the brothers and question them about what they were doing in the area around 3 a.m. In his videotaped interview, Moyers said he fired because he wanted the driver of the truck, Ryan, to stop. When an investigator told Moyers the passenger had died from a bullet wound, Moyers said, “You’re kidding. I can’t believe this. He’s dead, oh my God.”

Moyers did not take the stand during the trial.

* Adam Smith and Jean Cole report for The News Courier in Athens. The newspaper is a member of CNH, the parent company of The Cullman Times.