Murder She Wrote
Now, folks, when I say that the courthouse is directly across the street from the Alleghany County Courthouse, I mean directly. Indeed, here's the view from the front window.
There's been lots of goings on over there the past two days. Seems that the trial of Enrique Hernandez Soto for the murder of 18-year-old Amy Reese got underway on Monday. It's not just everyday that a murder trial takes place under your nose and I availed my self of the opportunity sit in the courtroom a couple of times today.
The whole scene was surreal. All persons entering the courtroom were required to pass through a metal detector after removing any items with which the detector might take offense. My wallet, of all things, failed!
The courtroom (there is only one) in the Alleghany County Courthouse is quite small with only three rows of seating for spectators That means you are up close and personal, with Mr. Hernandez sitting not more than six feet from me. He is a small man, about 45 years of age, from Puerto Rico. He sported a variety of tattoos, shaved head and a pencil-thin mustache. He was attired in a light blue shirt, necktie, dark pants, white socks and black patent-leather shoes. A single leather strap of some sort of restraining device worn under his pants on his right leg could be seen about his ankle. For a man pleading innocence on account of self defense after stabbing his teen-age girlfriend six times with a knife, he was remarkably cool, calm and collected.
I heard most the testimony of the victim's mother, Norma Musick. To describe the victim's family as dysfunctional would be a gross understatement. Amy and her Mother, for example, had not seen each other for five years prior to Amy's murder in her Mother's house. Untangling the family tree had the judge, the jury and attorneys on both sides shaking their heads. I never did figure out who slept where — and why — in the Musick house.
A description of the attire worn by the victim's family to the trial would be akin to the description of the crowd at a Lynard Skynard concert. The number of square inches of exposed midriff and cleavage was truly astonishing. They were, in a word, all dressed up to go to Wal-Mart.
I hope to attend more sessions in the days to come.
Stay tuned!
There's been lots of goings on over there the past two days. Seems that the trial of Enrique Hernandez Soto for the murder of 18-year-old Amy Reese got underway on Monday. It's not just everyday that a murder trial takes place under your nose and I availed my self of the opportunity sit in the courtroom a couple of times today.
The whole scene was surreal. All persons entering the courtroom were required to pass through a metal detector after removing any items with which the detector might take offense. My wallet, of all things, failed!
The courtroom (there is only one) in the Alleghany County Courthouse is quite small with only three rows of seating for spectators That means you are up close and personal, with Mr. Hernandez sitting not more than six feet from me. He is a small man, about 45 years of age, from Puerto Rico. He sported a variety of tattoos, shaved head and a pencil-thin mustache. He was attired in a light blue shirt, necktie, dark pants, white socks and black patent-leather shoes. A single leather strap of some sort of restraining device worn under his pants on his right leg could be seen about his ankle. For a man pleading innocence on account of self defense after stabbing his teen-age girlfriend six times with a knife, he was remarkably cool, calm and collected.
I heard most the testimony of the victim's mother, Norma Musick. To describe the victim's family as dysfunctional would be a gross understatement. Amy and her Mother, for example, had not seen each other for five years prior to Amy's murder in her Mother's house. Untangling the family tree had the judge, the jury and attorneys on both sides shaking their heads. I never did figure out who slept where — and why — in the Musick house.
A description of the attire worn by the victim's family to the trial would be akin to the description of the crowd at a Lynard Skynard concert. The number of square inches of exposed midriff and cleavage was truly astonishing. They were, in a word, all dressed up to go to Wal-Mart.
I hope to attend more sessions in the days to come.
Stay tuned!
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ReplyDelete