New Hope murder: Victim’s son says defendant was with him at time of shooting
The defendant was upstairs in her bedroom at the time of the shooting, the defendant treated her daughter with submissive deference and the man the prosecution portrayed as the victim’s Rasputin was a long-time friend who had no interest in changing the victim’s family dynamic, a key part of the motive in the murder, prosecutors say.
New Hope murder: Witnesses testify mother-in-law admitted to 2015 killing
During Wednesday’s abbreviated session of the Lydia Martinez murder trial, the prosecution focused heavily on the events of July 22, 2015, when authorities found what was described as a suicide note/confession in the defendant’s bedroom, and when Martinez allegedly admitted her guilt to a paramedic as she was being taken to the hospital.
New Hope murder: Granddaughter says religious tension in family led to father’s murder
Moments after taking her seat on the witness stand, fighting back tears even before the first question had been asked, the young woman was instructed to point out the defendant.
Gasping for air and clutching a tissue in her left hand, she raised her violently trembling right hand and pointed in the direction of the defense table — a young woman identifying her grandmother in the trial of her murdered father, the witness’ mother having already pleaded guilty in the case.
Mother-in-law of murdered New Hope man to stand trial today
The trial of a woman accused of helping kill her son-in-law in New Hope nearly six years ago is slated to begin today in Oktibbeha County.
Witnesses describe deception, push for ‘obedience’ from Second Baptist pastor
Before September 2015, Bennie Hairston trusted Rev. Joseph Stone.
Supreme court grants new trial for Lowndes man on death row
A Lowndes County man who has been on death row more than 20 years is entitled to a new trial, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled.
Former SPD officer convicted of child exploitation counts
A former Starkville police officer was convicted Friday on five counts of exploitation of a child after a three-day trial in which he testified in his own defense.
Huddle House, guard cleared in West Point fight
A Clay County jury has ruled in favor of a local security guard and the company that owned a West Point restaurant in a lawsuit accusing them of allowing a 2014 altercation at Huddle House that left two men seriously injured and sent three others to prison.
Judge denied motion to dismiss criminal case against Canyon Boykin
A 16th circuit court judge ruled Friday not to dismiss a case against a former Columbus police officer involved in a fatal shooting three years ago.
Jury recommends life in prison for man who rammed crowd
A jury Tuesday called for a sentence of life in prison plus 419 years for the Hitler admirer who killed a woman when he rammed his car into counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville two summers ago.
Former Palmer Home house parent sentenced to 40 years for sexual battery
A former house parent at Palmer Home sentenced to spend 40 years in prison told a jury Friday he did not molest three girls living with him at the Columbus children’s home.
Copes’ wife says twin accusers had behavioral problems at Palmer Home
The wife of a former Palmer Home employee accused of sexually abusing children testified Thursday her husband was charged after more than a year of a strained relationship with one of the two alleged victims.
Third female claims to be victim in Copes trial
A witness in the sexual battery trial of a former Palmer Home employee is claiming to be a third victim of sexual abuse, and there appears to be at least one document to back up her story.
Copes attorney sanctioned during trial
The attorney for a former Palmer Home employee accused of sexual battery was formally sanctioned in Lowndes Circuit Court Wednesday after he referred to a victim’s medical history in front of the jury.
Alleged victims testify in sexual battery trial of ex-Palmer Home house parent
Twin sisters who once lived at Palmer Home for Children testified Tuesday that as children they sometimes woke up to their house parent sexually assaulting them.
Unknown hitchhiker: Link to Mississippi burning death?
A woman testified Wednesday that she picked up a hitchhiker the night that a Mississippi woman was fatally burned, but she’s unsure whether it’s the man prosecutors have on trial.
Retrial begins for man accused in woman’s burning death
Quinton Tellis is the man on trial for killing a Mississippi woman by setting her on fire, but much of the first day’s testimony focused on emergency workers’ reports that Jessica Chambers told them an “Eric” had attacked her.
Second Chambers trial begins with Oktibbeha jury
A second trial in the Jessica Chambers murder case is set to begin today in Batesville after Monday’s jury selection in Starkville.
Retrial set for man accused in woman’s burning death
Was it Quinton or Eric?
That’s likely to be the choice again facing Mississippi jurors this week in the trial of Quinton Tellis, accused of setting 19-year-old Jessica Chambers on fire in her car in December 2014, only to see the dying woman stagger down a rural backroad and be found by firefighters.
Man sentenced to life in prison after third capital murder trial
A man accused and tried three times for the 2011 murder of his disabled cousin has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.