Scars are visible from burns on Doris Jackson’s neck. Jackson said the burns were an accident and her boyfriend, Bobby Taylor, should not be charged.(Melanie Duncan Thortis The Vicksburg Post)

[11/7/03]A woman whose boyfriend faces trial for setting her on fire says she will testify it was an accident, and that she does not understand why he’s being prosecuted.

Doris Jackson, 29, was burned on her face, arms, chest, stomach and legs in her Vicksburg apartment. Her boyfriend, Bobby Taylor, is accused of pouring alcohol on her and igniting it with a cigarette lighter after the two returned home from a night out.

Jackson was treated for two weeks at The Burn Center in Greenville and still visits a doctor there about every three or four weeks.

“I know it was an accident,” Jackson said of the injuries she received July 16. “I’m not just taking up for him.”

Without Jackson’s testimony, Taylor, 32, was indicted by the grand jury a week ago on a charge of aggravated assault. The sentence for an aggravated assault charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Taylor’s trial is set for Dec. 1.

But Jackson said she doesn’t understand why the district attorney’s office is prosecuting Taylor.

“I guess they don’t believe anything I’m saying,” she said. “I don’t know who’s behind all of this, and I don’t have any say-so.”

Assistant District Attorney Mike Bonner said of Taylor, “He was indicted by the grand jury, and we anticipate trying this case.”

Taylor was arrested at River Region Medical Center, where Jackson was initially treated, on July 17 and remained there until posting $75,000 bond on July 28.

When released from jail, Taylor was under court orders not to contact Jackson. However, he took her to Greenville for treatment at least once before being ordered Aug. 13 to remain in jail pending the grand jury session. He remained in jail today.

“I wish the district attorney would give him one more chance,” said Taylor’s sister, Edna Taylor. “It was an accident.”

The couple, whose relationship was on and off for more than nine years, had been living together in the apartment at 1201 South St. for about two years.

Jackson is now living with Edna Taylor until she can return to work and get back on her feet.

She’s had to visit doctors in Greenville recently because of a reaction to a cream she was using for the skin grafts on her legs.

And it’s Taylor’s sister who’s helping her out.

“I’m doing this out of my heart because I feel like I should do that,” Edna Taylor said.

“Bobby would do anything for Doris. He loves her,” she said.