Trial set for Madison County murder case

A three-day jury trial has been scheduled for a Madison County man charged with first-degree murder.

Dale Wayne Bryant’s trial is slated to begin July 30, according to an order filed Tuesday in Madison County Circuit Court and signed by Circuit Judge Mark Lindsay.

Bryant, 56, of Combs, shot his neighbor in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun after an argument Aug. 8, according to a probable-cause report.

Samuel Scott Hicks, 30, died at the scene. Bryant pleaded not guilty. Bryant told police “he was having neighbor troubles,” according to the report by Lt. Russell Alberts of the Madison County sSheriff’s Office.

“They were shining laser lights at his residence all hours of the night,” Alberts wrote.

Bryant left his house about 8 a.m. with a shotgun in his hands and walked to Madison County 4322, where he was met by Hicks, according to the report.

“Witnesses stated that he struck Hicks in the face with the shotgun,” Alberts wrote. “Hicks took the shotgun from him and a physical altercation ensued. The altercation broke up. Hicks started to walk away when Bryant retrieved his shotgun and fired a round at Hicks, missing him and striking a tree, at which time he pumped another round into the chamber and fired again at Hicks, this time striking him in the back as he was going away.”

Bryant went to his house, unloaded the shotgun and called the Sheriff’s Office, according to the report. Then he went outside and waited for deputies to arrive.

Bryant remains free on bond.

Bryant