MAN BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL IN KILLING AT PERRYVILLE

PERRYVILLE -- A single shot fired into the chest of William H. Dial as he waited to complete a drug deal, witnesses said at a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Circuit Judge Michael Bullerdieck heard testimony from two men who said Russell Allen Cline, 39, of Perryville killed Dial. Cline is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the Feb. 8 killing.

Following the hearing, Cline was bound over for arraignment April 7 before Circuit Judge John Grimm of Cape Girardeau.

During cross-examination by Wayne Keller, Cline's attorney, both Kevin Dexter and Terry Reed admitted to changing their original statements to police before testifying that Cline killed Dial.

Dexter, 20, told the court he had known Dial for only a few days prior to the killing. Dexter said he had bought marijuana from Dial three days prior.

Dexter said he had planned to meet Dial on the evening of Feb. 8, but when he saw Dial out walking he stopped him, and they went together to Dial's residence at 1138 W. St. Joseph St. The two men entered the home at approximately 7:40 p.m., Dexter said.

About 10 minutes later, as Dial was pacing in the kitchen, a knock came at the door, Dexter said. "Bill walked to the door and didn't even get it open and was shot," he told the court.

The shooter was all in black and wearing a ski mask, Dexter first told police.

Dexter said the man walked up to Dexter, pushed the gun barrel into his chest and asked, "Where's the money at?" Dexter said he pushed the gun away, and the man left.

After police arrested Cline, Dexter said he changed his story. The man, who he then identified as Cline, was not wearing a mask, he said. Dexter said he had lied to police out of fear. "He had stuck a gun in my chest," Dexter said. "I was afraid for my life."

Although Dexter said he had only seen Cline two times before, he recognized him as the man who shot Dial. Dexter told the judge of an occasion at a gasoline station when his car was parked next to a van that Cline was sitting in. He said his sister's boyfriend had told him at that time who Cline was.

In response to a question by Keller, Dexter said the Perry County prosecutor's office had promised to drop a charge of attempting to purchase a controlled substance in exchange for his testimony.

Another witness told the court he had given Cline his revolver about 10 minutes before the murder. "He said he wanted to borrow my gun," said Terry Reed, 33. "He said he needed it for protection."

Cline had gone to Reed's residence a few blocks away from Dial's, saying that he needed the gun because he was going to steal radiators and other car parts from a salvage yard, Reed said. Reed said he gave him his .22-caliber revolver.

Cline left, then returned within five minutes, Reed said. Cline allegedly told Reed he had tried to scare someone into giving him $3,000 and had accidentally shot him. Cline wanted to give the gun back to Reed. "I told him I didn't want it and to get rid of it," Reed said.

Reed told the court he "understood the gun was thrown into deep water."

Police have not recovered a weapon.