Murder charge against Lawrence Watts reduced to manslaughter

EUFAULA, Okla. (AP) -- The murder charge against Eufaula restaurant owner Lawrence Watts is being reduced to a first-degree manslaughter.<br/><br/>Watts, the brother of former Congressman JC Watts, also

Monday, September 13th 2004, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

EUFAULA, Okla. (AP) -- The murder charge against Eufaula restaurant owner Lawrence Watts is being reduced to a first-degree manslaughter.

Watts, the brother of former Congressman JC Watts, also waived his right to a jury trial.

The trial is to begin this afternoon and Judge Steven Taylor will hear the evidence and decide whether Lawrence Watts is guilty.

Prosecutors say Lawrence Watts shot Anthony Greco outside Watts' barbecue restaurant in a dispute over money Greco thought he was owed.

Watts then walked to the McIntosh County Courthouse and told a judge he had just shot someone.