Testimony given in man’s death

By Amanda Stewart

Published: March 27, 2008

What started as a disagreement and escalated into a fist fight ended with the death of 46-year-old John Robert Anderson, according to court testimony Thursday.

The two men charged in Anderson's death, Jason John Ward, 24, of 1541 Colonial Drive, Apt. 204, in the Occoquan area, and Christopher Edward Nicely, 22, 5010 Gum Spring Road in the Manassas area, appeared Thursday in Prince William General District Court for a preliminary hearing on charges of first-degree murder.

Prince William General District Court Judge Peter W. Steketee ruled that there is sufficient evidence to send those charges to the grand jury, which will consider them on April 7.

According to court testimony, Nicely and another man, Carlin Beavers, were at the City Tavern Grille on Sudley Road in the Manassas area on Jan. 13 when they met Anderson. Beavers said he had seen Anderson there one other time, but did not know him.

Nicely and Beavers—who is like a grandfather to Nicely, he said—decided to go back to Beavers' house in the 9500 block of Sudley Road to drink and play music. Later Ward, Nicely's friend, also joined them.

Anderson followed Nicely and Beavers home from the bar, Beavers testified.

The four men were drinking and listening to music in Beavers' garage, which doubles as a workshop. But soon Anderson began "displaying erratic behavior," Ward later told police, Prince William County Detective Todd Troutner testified Thursday.

Anderson began pounding his hands on a table and workbench and at one point accidentally bumped Ward into a hot barrel stove, burning his hands, Troutner said.

Anderson wanted Beavers to play "ZZ Top music," but Beavers, who plays bluegrass music, didn't know how, he said in court.

This made Anderson angry and he pushed or punched the 69-year-old Beavers, causing him to fall back, Ward later told police.

Nicely told Anderson to leave, but he did not, according to court testimony.

Soon, Nicely and Anderson went outside to fight. Ward joined them, going to Nicely's defense, he told police.

Ward said the men were hitting and kicking each other for about five to 10 minutes before Anderson stopped fighting back, according to court testimony.

Nicely and Ward then put Anderson in his car in front of Beavers house. A few minutes later, Anderson came out of the car and the men began to fight again.

Nicely and Ward again put Anderson in the backseat of his car, but this time they drove the car to Robin Drive, less than a mile away, so that he could not come back to Beavers' house, Ward told police.

At about 3 p.m. on Jan. 14, police found Anderson there, dead in his car.

Anderson died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso, Troutner said.

Nicely and Ward turned themselves in to police three days later, on Jan. 17, after hearing media reports that Anderson had died.

If the grand jury indicts Nicely and Ward on April 7, their trial dates will then be set in Prince William Circuit Court.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.