On the night of January 25, 1978, Giles County Deputy Sheriff Henry Herbert ’Hub’ Slayton, 65, was on duty in the Pulaski area when he radioed that he was stopping to investigate a car stopped in the middle of a rural road. Minutes later Slayton was found in a nearby ditch, having been shot multiple times.

Authorities arrested 23-year-old Pulaski resident Johnny E. Powell and charged him with the deputy’s murder. Powell was held without bond and a preliminary hearing was set to decide if the case would go to trial. At trial Powell testified in his own defense, saying he was in his car after having a couple of beers and did not initially know Slayton was an officer; he described a struggle, claimed Slayton drew his weapon and threatened him, and said he fired in self-defense. The prosecution countered that some shots struck Slayton after he had fallen, including shots to the back.

Are there witnesses or additional details about the encounter on that rural road that anyone can share?