Man Claims Two Others May Have Killed Brother

By Tracy Neal

Posted: November 24, 2009 at 4:45 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — Joel Bullard wants jurors to hear his claims that another person is responsible for killing his brother.

Joel Bullard, 30, is charged with murder in the first degree, a class Y felony punishable with a sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life in prison.

He is accused of killing his half brother, then burying the body. Investigators found Darrell Bullard’s remains wrapped in a sheet in a shallow grave about 200 yards behind his stepmother’s Gravette home in March 2007.

Joel Bullard is representing himself.

On Monday, Circuit Judge David Clinger scheduled a hearing for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 8 to determine whether Bullard will be allowed to use as a defense that a third party murdered his brother.

The accused killer sent a letter to Clinger claiming that two individuals previously convicted of murder in Oklahoma had ample opportunity to kill Darrell Bullard. He was last seen August 2006 after spending the night at the home with his stepmother and brother.

Prosecutors claim Joel Bullard killed his brother that night and later buried the body

Joel Bullard did not identify the two men that he claims may be responsible for his brother’s death. However, he claims his brother’s murder is similar to the one involving the two men because the body in that case was hidden and then recovered, according to court documents.

Bullard’s letter also did not name the murder victim in the Oklahoma case.

Bullard claims that the two individuals were at his mother’s residence at or around the time of his brother’s murder.

Bullard’s second jury trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 15.

Last year, the first trial ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a verdict. The foreman on the Bullard’s jury reported the panel was 11-1 in favor of a guilty verdict.

During the first trial, Bullard attempted to introduce the claim that a third party was responsible for his brother’s murder. However, Circuit Judge David Clinger denied the attempt because Bullard did not have any evidence that connected the third party to the crime.

At Monday’s hearing, Deputy Prosecutor David Reading said prosecutors are taking the same stance that Bullard’s third party claim should not be allowed since he (Bullard) does not have any evidence connecting another person to the crime.

Bullard’s plea offer was not discussed during Monday’s proceedings.

During a previous hearing, Reading told the court that Bullard had until Dec. 1 to accept a plea agreement or face a retrial.

Bullard is being held in the Benton County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.

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