Jury begins deliberations after closing arguments in Prindel Creek Farm murder trial

Jurors weighing a self-defense claim in a fatal shooting at Prindel Creek Farm heard attorneys attack the credibility of witness testimony — including from the murder defendant — during the trial’s closing statements Thursday, Nov. 5.

It’s the second trial for Everett Scott Fuller, 57, after he pulled out his pistol from a hoodie pocket and shot Christopher “Bubba” Clark Jr., 32, who had a romantic relationship with Fuller’s then-wife, Christine, according to testimony.

A self-described pacifist, Fuller testified he fired his gun Dec. 26, 2024, “in self-preservation, in some kind of reflex,” fearful of falling from an elevated platform after Clark grabbed his leg and tried to pull him down onto a concrete floor. 

Fuller testified he was seated in an office chair with rollers and, with Clark pulling his leg, felt himself sliding out of the chair when he fired at Clark.

Tyler Holloway, a witness to the shooting, called 911 for help. Hours later he was fatally shot by police who were delayed in reaching the remote area about 25 miles east of Yachats. A wrongful death lawsuit is pending against an Oregon State Police sergeant and others alleging negligence in Holloway’s death.

Jurors left for the day a few minutes after 5 p.m. Thursday without reaching a verdict and will continue deliberations Friday.

Changes from first trial

Fuller’s first trial ended in June when jurors deadlocked. The first trial’s presiding juror told Lookout Eugene-Springfield eight jurors favored a not-guilty verdict.

But unlike in the first trial, if jurors find Fuller not guilty of second-degree murder, they have been told to consider whether he’s guilty of first-degree manslaughter. Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Geil made the request Wednesday to Lane County Circuit Judge Charles Zennaché.

Zennaché also told jurors Thursday if they find Fuller not guilty of both charges, to consider whether he’s guilty of criminally negligent homicide. Second-degree murder carries a minimum sentence of 25 years, compared to 10 years for first-degree manslaughter. 

There is no mandatory minimum sentence for criminally negligent homicide, a Class B felony in Oregon considered less serious than a Class A felony.

Fuller’s emails

Geil, as in the first trial, again argued that Fuller shot Clark in anger, not self-defense.

“You don’t get to kill people because you don’t like what’s happening in your relationship,” Geil told jurors. 

He said Everett Fuller “can’t let this woman go.” Fuller “has to have her,” Geil said.

Fuller temporarily moved to Missouri in 2022 with the couple’s younger son after learning of a romantic relationship between Christine Fuller and Clark, according to testimony. 

He later moved back to Prindel Creek Farm, and the married couple did not live together at the time of the shooting, though Christine Fuller stayed part-time on the rural property. 

The site, part of the isolated Five Rivers region in northwest Lane County, has residents who rent and others who trade work for lodging, with some living in a house and others in a trailer or yurt, according to trial testimony. Clark also lived at Prindel Creek Farm.

Geil read from multiple emails between the married couple, most of them from the time Everett Fuller was in Missouri.

“I gave my word to Bubba that if he ever tried to get you to touch him again, I would shoot him,” Fuller told his wife in one such email, which Geil read aloud to jurors. 

Geil continued reading: “I don’t see any way of facing him, except down a barrel while pulling the trigger. I must have been wrong about pacifism.”

Questioning Fuller’s account

Geil also referred to testimony from Amy Jewett, one of four people present when the shooting took place in a structure at the site known as the Packing Shed.

Jewett, Holloway, Christine Fuller and Clark had gathered at a recreation area with a pool table and dart board when Fuller arrived, according to testimony. He told the group he only wanted to watch and then climbed up stairs to a loft area, according to trial testimony.

“Ms. Jewett said she didn’t see a leg grab,” Geil told jurors, arguing against Fuller’s account of the moments leading to the shooting.

Geil pulled out a tape measure extended downward from his left hand, pointing out to jurors Clark’s height, which Geil said was 5-foot-9, and the height of the elevated platform, described in testimony as about 5 feet 6 inches or 5 feet 8 inches above the floor. The measurements varied as the platform had a raised lip at its edge, according to testimony.

“It doesn’t make sense in terms of leverage,” Geil said of Fuller’s account. “[Clark’s] not going to be able to jerk somebody out.”

About a leg grab, “Jewett says there wasn’t; he says there was,” Geil said. “But he’s got a motivation to present a different story.”

Geil also referred to testimony about the shooting of Holloway. 

Jewett testified that just before Holloway was shot, she heard him curse and then a gunshot, followed by a “barrage” of gunfire. Only several hours later did she come to understand the “barrage” came from police, as at the time she thought Fuller had returned to “annihilate” the group.

Holloway “arms himself to protect himself and the two women from Mr. Fuller,” Geil told jurors, telling them why Holloway had a gun. Rather than a self-defense shooting, Holloway’s actions showed fear of Fuller, Geil said.

“When police [arrive], he says, ‘Motherf—–’ and shoots. Those are actions consistent with witnessing a murder,” Geil said.

About Fuller, Geil said, “What we have here is a man who didn’t get the result he wanted, and he wasn’t willing to let it go.

“He thought about killing this guy and thought about killing this guy … and he ended Mr. Clark’s life,” Geil said.

Defense’s closing argument

John Kolego, a defense attorney for Fuller, told jurors they had to decide whether Fuller faced “an objectively reasonable fear.”

“This is a tragic situation,” Kolego said, calling it “compounded” by “imperfect” people.

“But that’s not the issue. What matters is the 10 minutes in the Packing Shed,” Kolego said.

Kolego said Fuller went to the Packing Shed after his then-wife didn’t return as expected Dec. 26.

According to testimony, the couple and their two sons, as well as Everett Fuller’s mother, spent Christmas together and had a large meal. With no room for dessert, they had planned to gather and eat pie Dec. 26. Christine Fuller showed up, but hours later than expected, and she quickly left without seeing Everett Fuller or the couple’s youngest son, a teenager, who had gone to sleep.

Everett Fuller went to the recreation area out of “concern” about his wife’s drinking, Kolego told jurors, not anger.

According to testimony, Christine Fuller felt uncomfortable after Everett Fuller’s arrival and had grabbed her coat and was on her way out the door when the shooting took place.

Kolego told jurors it wasn’t Everett Fuller who was angry that night, but Clark, because “his girlfriend has left.” Kolego also told jurors about expert testimony that Clark had been drinking, describing him as “tuned up” and “ready to party.”

Expert testimony described Clark’s blood-alcohol level as 0.139, above the legal driving limit of 0.08. According to witness testimony, there was some sort of argument or loud talking before the shooting, though accounts varied.

Describing a back-and-forth between Clark and Fuller, based on Fuller’s testimony, “at that point he grabs him and starts to pull him,” Kolego told jurors, bringing his hands together and stomping his foot.

“The only witness who claims to have seen this is Amy Jewett [who] we know does not like Mr. Fuller,” Kolego told jurors. “She said as much.”

Kolego also told jurors Jewett reported hearing two shots, but autopsy findings showed wounds to Clark from three shots. Jewett also testified Fuller fired more shots, but under defense attorney questioning a Lance County Sheriff’s Office detective said there was no evidence found in the Packing Shed of additional shots fired.

Fuller fired at Clark because “if he didn’t, he would have been dragged off that platform,” Kolego said. “He would have suffered a serious injury or death.”