911 AUDIO: Trial set to begin Monday in shooting death of prominent local attorney

Lisa Gilliam is facing 20 to 50 years or life in prison when she goes to trial Monday in Laurel Circuit Court for the 2011 murder of her husband, Larry Gilliam.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele, who will be prosecuting the case, said he expects the trial to last three days.

Lisa Gilliam was indicted for the murder in March 2011, following an investigation by the Laurel County Major Crimes Task Force.

London Police were called to Larry Gilliam’s office on East 4th Street on the afternoon of Jan. 7, 2011 in response to a complaint of a shooting.

Officers found he was still alive, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest from a .380 semiautomatic handgun.

He was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in London where he died.

London Police Chief Stewart Walker said the Gilliams were the only two people in the office at the time of the shooting.

In a copy of the call to Laurel County 911, which may be heard online at www.thenewsjournal.net, Lisa Gilliam can be heard screaming that Larry Gilliam had shot himself in the chest.

The Laurel County Major Crimes Task Force began an investigation to determine whether the cause of death was murder or suicide. The findings were then presented to the grand jury.

Walker emphasized that a grand jury indictment does not imply an individual is guilty, but that there is sufficient probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed.

Four days after the indictment was returned, Lisa Gilliam surrendered to local law enforcement.

The case was initially scheduled to go to trail in February. That date was continued for what Steele described as discovery issues on both sides.

Discovery is the process by which attorneys make evidence or documentation that may presented available for the other party and make witnesses available for deposition.

A second trial date on May 7 was continued at the request of Lisa Gilliam’s attorneys, Scott Foster and Robert Norfleet, again because of issues with discovery.

A second trial date in July was continued because one of the expert witnesses was pregnant and would not be available.

Whitley County District Court Judge Fred White previously described Gilliam as a unique individual who enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially on his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

"He was an original," White said of Gilliam.