Phil Spector: Defense Seeks to Delay Retrial!

Linda Deutsch of the Associated Press is reporting that Spector's defense team went before a judge today to ask for an "indefinite stay" in the retrial, currently scheduled to start on October 2nd, 2008.

At issue is the defense teams "double jeopardy" motion that Judge Fidler had denied last month. The defense had argued that since the Court made a ruling in the first trial that lesser included (voluntary and involuntary manslaughter) charges could not be presented to the jury to consider, that is tantamount to an acquittal of those charges, and therefore the prosecution must be barred from being able to present those charges in the retrial. The stay would give the defense team time to appeal Judge Fidler's earlier ruling.

The Associated Press

CNN.Crime

Joseph Edward Duncan: Opening Arguments in Death Penalty Phase Begin

A jury was empaneled and prosecutors presented their opening arguments in Duncan's death penalty hearing today. Duncan is representing himself at this hearing and it is speculated that his defense will be silence; that he will not present any counter-argument as to why the jury should spare his life for the brutal 2005 slayings of four individuals of the Groene family, living in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. During that killing spree, Duncan kidnapped the two youngest, 8 year-old Shasta Groene and Dylan Groene, 9. On the run, Duncan took the children to a remote area of Montana where he raped and tortured them and later killed fourth victim, Dylan. Shasta was rescued in a Denny's restaurant when Duncan returned with her to Coeur d'Alene.

This was a horrific case to follow when it first hit the news and I was deeply affected by what happened to this family. There was a large outpouring of love and support from the general public for Shasta when she was found, with many people sending her gifts and toys, myself included. I made her a fleece and flannel throw blanket with cartoon cats on it.

CNN.Crime

Freezer Not First Grave Site for Preacher Hopkins' Wife, Arletha

A preliminary hearing was held in Mobile, Alabama today, where a Judge ruled there was probable cause for a grand jury investigation to charge Anthony Hopkins for the murder of his wife, Arletha. Hopkins has also been charged with sodomizing, raping and sexually abusing one of his eight children.

During testimony heard today, it was revealed that the freezer where Arletha was found was not her first grave. According to statements made to detectives by one of Hopkins's children, Arletha was first buried behind a church. Her body was later moved because Hopkins was not "at peace" with that grave site. The same child who was allegedly raped, described to detectives (who testified today) how Hopkins strangled their mother while she screamed for the children to call 911.

Hopkins is currently being housed in isolation, away from other prisoners in the Mobile Metro Jail.

WKRG.com