Manslaughter trial scheduled for May for Lockesburg woman

A May trial date is scheduled for a Lockesburg woman charged for her involvement in the 2021 death of a former law enforcement officer.
According to court records, 35-year-old Kayle Helms was charged last year with a single count of manslaughter following the death of 50-year-old Chris Brackett in 2021. Helms, who has pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to appear in the Sevier County Circuit Court on April 27.

If she maintains her plea, a jury trial is scheduled for May 3.

According to the arrest affidavit, Helms said she and Brackett were practicing self-defense techniques the night of Aug. 12, 2021 when the handgun she was holding accidentally discharged. The incident occurred at Brackett’s home near Lockesburg.

Helms called 911 and performed emergency first aid under the direction of dispatchers with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. When first responders arrived on scene they witnessed Brackett with a gunshot wound to his head. According to the initial report, Helms was holding Brackett’s head in attempt to apply pressure to the wound and was in an extremely distraught state.

Brackett, who is a former Sevier County Sheriff’s deputy and Arkansas state trooper, was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.

Helms was formally charged in March 2022 with one count of manslaughter, a Class C felony. Upon a conviction, the offense carries a sentence of three to 10 years in prison.