Though it was reported as a suicide, Laura-Lee Godfrey Holliman”s death was homicide, a medical examiner testified Wednesday.
“It was a homicide,” said Dr. Lisa Funte, a medical examiner with the Shelby County Regional Forensics Center in Memphis, Tenn. Funte performed the autopsy on Laura Holliman after she was found dead at her Caledonia home from a 12-gauge shotgun wound Oct. 25, 2008.
Her husband, Brian Holliman, is on trial in Lowndes County Circuit Court for the killing.
Despite evidence gunshot residue was present on Laura Holliman and not Brian Holliman at the time of the initial investigation and Wednesday testimony calling Laura Holliman “depressed” and “withdrawn,” Funte determined the wound was not self-inflicted.
“She was slightly depressed, she became withdrawn and seemed to be in a lot of pain,” said Heather Cole, a Caledonia school-bus driver. “She told me she had to leave work early because of migraine headaches.”
Cole, who has worked as an emergency medical technician with Lowndes County”s District 2 Volunteer Fire Department, knew Laura Holliman through her work coaching Caledonia Elementary School”s pee wee cheerleaders.
“I knew her and Brian. I would see her at the grocery store, at ballgames or the park, and we would talk,” Cole testified.
District Attorney Forrest Allgood challenged her ability to determine whether or not Laura Holliman was depressed. As an EMT, Cole said, she was able to tell when people were depressed.
Brian Holliman”s mother, Sarah Holliman, said Laura Holliman was grappling with personal and health issues, though Funte”s testimony contradicted some of her claims.
“We were very close. I treated her like my daughter,” said Sarah Holliman. “We baked together. She and I would sit and talk sometimes.”
According to Sarah Holliman, Laura Holliman had E. coli in her bladder, an open sore on the top of her toe and, three days before her death, found out she had type 2 diabetes.
Funte testified she did not see any indications of urinary tract infections or the onset of diabetes.
“The kidneys were perfectly healthy, and I did not see any evidence of diabetes,” Funte said. “If she had urinary tract infection, her bladder would have been swollen and red.”
Sarah Holliman echoed Cole, saying Laura Holliman was depressed. She attributed the depression to the challenges of having her teenage sister, Katie, living with her.
“She became depressed about what to do about her sister, Katie, after her mother was incarcerated. She asked me for advice,” Sarah Holliman said.
Laura wondered if she was “physically and emotionally ready” to have a teenager in the house along with three young children — Brianna, Brian and Laura Holliman”s only child together, Raleigh, Laura Holliman”s daughter from a previous relationship, and Brooks, Brian Holliman”s son from a previous relationship.
“I said she could put (Katie) in Palmer Home for Children,” said Sarah Holliman, who noted she visited Laura Holliman, at the request of Brian Holliman, the Monday before her death.
“He said she needed a woman to talk to,” Sarah Holliman said.
When Sarah Holliman arrived at the house, Raleigh and Brianna were in Laura Holliman”s car crying; the trunk was open and contained some of Laura Holliman”s clothes, she said. Laura Holliman was in the bedroom standing between a gun cabinet and the headboard of the bed.
“She was upset and she was crying, so I held her. She said, ”My head and my side hurt. If I had a bullet, that could solve everything,”” Sarah Holliman continued.
Sarah Holliman also indicated she had a good relationship with Laura Holliman”s maternal grandmother, Freda Stacy, who, she said, had given her a letter titled “Father”s (God”s) Love Letter.”
“I told Ms. Stacy Laura-Lee is a sick girl and needs help,” said Sarah Holliman, who later testified a loaded shotgun with the safety off, kept underneath the bed where Brian and Laura Holliman slept, was placed there by Laura Holliman.
“Laura had the gun there,” Sarah Holliman said. “She said she needed it there at night when Brian was away at work.”
Stacy Monday testified Laura Holliman “did not like guns.”
David Whitehead, chief of the Mississippi Crime Lab”s Trace Evidence Section, testified gunshot residue was found on Laura Holliman but not on Brian Holliman.
“There was residue on the back of her right hand, her right palm and the back of her left hand. There was none on the left palm,” Whitehead said.
During questioning from Allgood, he also noted the residue could be washed away.
“Also, if a person put their hands in their pockets or ran their hand through their hair, it could come off,” Whitehead said.
Sixteenth Circuit Judge Lee Howard Wednesday afternoon overruled a motion by defense attorney Steve Farese to dismiss charges against Brian Holliman.
“The state has totally failed to present a case of murder,” Farese said.
The state rested its case Wednesday after testimony from Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office Investigator Eli Perrigin. Cole was the first witness called by the defense followed by Sarah Holliman, whose testimony continued this morning.
Brian Holliman declined to take the stand in his own defense; that decision, Howard noted Wednesday, must be made by the defendant.
Farese filed a motion for a change of venue in August citing “high public visibility” from intense media coverage of Holliman”s case has tainted the jury pool. Howard decided to let the juror-vetting process determine whether or not to move the trial. Howard”s ruling also called for an additional 50 potential jurors be added to the jury panel.
Brian Holliman, 28, has been free on bond pending his trial since November 2008 and previously pleaded not guilty to the charge. Laura Holliman was 24 at the time of her death.
Brian Holliman was arrested Oct. 29 by the LCSO; his bond was set at $1 million on Oct. 30 by the late Lowndes County Justice Court Judge Phillip Robertson. The defendant later was released on a signature bond, but was re-arrested the following day.
Howard in November 2008 reduced Brian Holliman”s $1 million bond to $200,000 because he had no prior capital convictions and had never been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.
Laura Holliman”s death originally was investigated as a suicide, but Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant and sheriff”s office investigators became suspicious of the death and began questioning Brian Holliman.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
