Parrish says he was wrongly cast as a liar
Johnny Parrish says Thomas Lance told him he planned to kill his best friend. And he’s irate his former boss testified he wasn’t at work the day he alleges Lance made such a statement, making Parrish look like a liar.
“This makes me look like a bad guy for doing the right thing,” said Parrish, who came up to the Standard office after reading the story in Friday’s edition. “I figure this is somebody’s son, and we’re talking about murder here. This makes me look like I’m a total liar.”
Parrish testified Thursday that he and Lance were taking a break from their job as roofers when Lee Neal drove up. Parrish claims Neal made an obscene gesture which he said prompted Lance to say, “I’m going to kill that —–.”
Parrish said he thought nothing of the statement at the time until he learned the next day Neal had died in a fire. Parrish said he didn’t want to be “a snitch” but a talk with his grandmother convinced him to come forward and tell police what he knew.
“I’ve always heard the truth will set you free,” said Parrish.
Terry McKeon, the former boss of Parrish, Neal and Lance, took the stand to testify Parrish was not at work the day before Neal died.