Register Staff Writer

George Davis died from four gunshots to his head, and according to one pathologist, those shots were fired at very close range.

Alex Taylor, 26, who is on trial for the April 2007 killing of Davis, admitted to investigators he was the one who shot Davis, 62, in the bedroom of his north Napa home.

On Thursday, pathologist Gregory Reiber, who performed the autopsy on Davis, told the jury Davis was shot once in the bridge of the nose, twice in the temple and once just above his right eye.

He also testified Davis was shot in the back of his left shoulder, and the bullet exited the body through the front part of his shoulder.

Napa County Deputy District Attorney Gary Van Camp asked Reiber how close the shooter was to Davis.

Reiber said the soot and gunpowder found around the wounds in the face indicate that the shooter was very close.

“Within an inch,” he said. “There even could have been some (weapon) contact with the body.”

Reiber testified that the gunshot wounds to the temple were fired from some distance.

Reiber told the jury that Davis had been dead for 24 to 36 hours before the body was found by an acquaintance.

Napa Police detective Brian Campagna was recalled to the witness stand. He was crossed-examined by defense attorney Jess Raphael.

Taylor’s confession came during an interview with Campagna on the night Davis’ body was found.

Taylor, who said he suffers from schizophrenia, told Campagna that he shot Davis because Davis wanted to commit suicide, but because of his religious beliefs could not do it himself. Taylor said Davis had asked him to do it, and Taylor followed out his wishes.

In another possible motive, Taylor told Campagna he believed Davis was the man who raped him when he was 4, even though he did not know Davis at that time. The rape allegation has not been substantiated.

On Thursday, Raphael asked Campagna if he believed Taylor was acting out an act of kindness in carrying out Davis’ wish to end his life.

“No,” Campagna replied.

“Mr. Davis did not want to go to hell, and Alex Taylor obliged him,” Raphael countered.

Raphael also fired questions at Campagna about Taylor’s mental health, saying that Taylor was sensitive about his condition.

Campagna said he knew Taylor had mental health issues.

The trial has completed its third week and is expected to last three to four weeks more.

At this point the prosecution is calling its witnesses. Once they are finished, it will be Raphael’s turn to call his witnesses.

Raphael said he will argue that the killing was in self-defense, but at this point there has been no testimony referring to that issue. Raphael has also said that if his client is convicted, he should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.

During the interviews with detectives the day Davis’ body was found, Taylor said Davis practiced witchcraft and black magic, and worshiped the devil. He said he met Davis when he was 16, and Davis was teaching him how to cast spells.

Taylor also said when the demons inside him began to harass him, Davis would do black magic to drive them from Taylor’s body.