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Jurors hear tape of defendant describing killing

Victoria Jackson, 23, is accused of robbing and killing her brother-in-law, lottery millionaire Jeffrey Dampier Jr., last year.

By COLLEEN JENKINS
Published September 21, 2006

TAMPA - Victoria Jackson spoke into the tape recorder, soft and meek.

"I just closed my eyes," she said. "And pulled the trigger."

It was July 29, 2005. Three days before, Jackson had helped her boyfriend rob and kill gourmet popcorn shop owner Jeffrey Dampier Jr. as they drove his van around southern Hillsborough County, authorities said.

Now she was at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, talking to Hillsborough detectives who caught up with her there.

One of those detectives, Steve Lewis, played the tape for jurors Wednesday. It was the first time during Jackson's first-degree murder trial that jurors heard her version of the night's events.

Prosecutors told them Jackson, 23, wanted more money from Dampier, the 39-year-old brother-in-law who supported her with his $20-million Illinois lottery winnings.

Defense attorneys said she had been abused by Dampier, with whom she also had a relationship, and by her boyfriend, Nathaniel Jackson. They said Nathaniel Jackson, of no relation, orchestrated the killing, a theory they will elaborate on when they present their case today.

Wednesday, as the state wrapped up its case, it was Victoria Jackson's turn to speak.

She told detectives that she had been engaged to Dampier since 2004, despite his marriage to her sister, Crystal. He bought her an engagement ring but she pawned it to pay bills, she said.

On July 26, Nathaniel Jackson told her to invite Dampier over to their Brandon apartment. She said he also called Terri Jackson, Victoria's other sister.

Terri Jackson testified Tuesday that Victoria invited her over to eat pizza and watch movies. But during Victoria Jackson's taped interview, Victoria said Terri knew something else was up.

Victoria Jackson said it was Terri who tied Dampier's wrists with shoestring at the apartment and searched his pockets for money.

"Bro, please," she recalled Dampier saying. "I'll give you whatever you want."

Terri Jackson disputed any involvement with the robbery, and she was not charged.

The younger sister said they left the apartment and she got into the driver's side of Dampier's van, as directed by Nathaniel Jackson. After driving for a while, her boyfriend made her switch seats.

"He handed me the gun," she said on the recording. "He told me to keep it on Dampier."

Dampier lay facedown on the floor of the van.

"Do it!" Nathaniel Jackson told Victoria. "Shoot him!"

Her sister Terri told her to wait, Victoria Jackson said, because police were behind them. When the police car turned off the road, Nathaniel Jackson repeated his order.

She fired. The people in the van went quiet, Victoria Jackson said.

The trio drove down a one-way street in Seffner and dumped the van. As they walked away from the scene, Terri Jackson asked for her cut of Dampier's money, Victoria Jackson said.

On the recording, Victoria Jackson told detectives that she had been verbally and physically threatened by Nathaniel Jackson. She started to cry when Cpl. Lewis asked if she was scared of her boyfriend.

She didn't answer when he asked what her intentions were that night. Lewis repeated the questions.

"Did you plan on killing him that night?"

"No."

"Did you plan on robbing him that night?"

"I didn't plan on it, but I knew what was going to happen."

Lewis testified Wednesday that the trio stole $7,000 from Dampier. He died from a single gunshot to his head.

Colleen Jenkins can be reached at (813) 226-3337 or cjenkins@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 21, 2006, 01:21:20]