[05/31/03]The trial of a man accused of fatally shooting a friend of his ex-wife, shooting his ex-wife, and setting on fire the friend’s truck is to begin Monday.

Donald Wilson, 64, 1074 Riley Road, is charged with murder in the Aug. 19, 2001, death of Joseph Hartzog, who was 56; aggravated assault in the wounding of his ex-wife, Patricia Wilson, who was then 52; and third-degree arson, reportedly for setting fire to Hartzog’s pickup, with Hartzog still in the truck after he was shot.

Jury selection in the trial is to begin at 9 a.m. Monday in Warren County Circuit Court, said Assistant District Attorney John Bullard, who is representing the state in the case.

Wilson was arrested by Warren County deputies at the scene of the alleged shootings, 385 Culkin Road, where he and his ex-wife had lived for about 10 years.

After a 30-year marriage, the two had been divorced for about a year. Patricia Wilson remained at the Culkin Road home they had shared.

The .38-caliber pistol investigators believe Wilson used was found in the home, Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said after the arrest. Both Patricia Wilson and Hartzog were standing at the truck when Donald Wilson approached them and fired, Pace said.

Hartzog was a widower, his wife, Dorothy, having died in 1996. He was born in Geneva County, Ala., and lived in Vicksburg for 25 years.

Patricia Wilson was reportedly found in a neighbor’s yard and was taken to ParkView Regional Medical Center with a gunshot wound to her abdomen.

Reports after the shootings indicated Hartzog had been cleaning the truck interior. An electrical cord leading to a vacuum was found nearby.

Pace said the autopsy showed Hartzog died of gunshot wounds before the vehicle was apparently doused with gasoline and set on fire.

Patricia Wilson, a maintenance supervisor, and Hartzog, a service technician, worked in related businesses in the same industry locally.

Wilson, who worked as a self-employed mechanic, remains in the Warren County Jail.

The trial setting has been delayed until now due in part to Wilson’s two changes of attorney and requests, and then withdrawals of requests, to be examined psychologically, Bullard said. He is being represented by attorney Pat McNamara.