Murder Trial Play by Play

[noway]

The Hattiesburg American website has play by play on the murder trial being held in Hattieburg.. A couple things on the trial.. Sounds like these people were killed because of a car wreck. Why do you take the bodies to kansas in a freezer? If you have cut body pieces off the victmins stop by different dumpsters on the way to kansas.. Go to the leaf river? Seems like the trial is all about getting the death penalty.
I like reading HA.com and glad they are doing this but will you buy a paper tomorrow? Will you read the story tomorrow? I forgot nobody buys a paper on here.. :smt102

[daisy]

I get the real paper. You're talking about the ugly lady in the jumpsuit. I don't remember all the motives but there was sexual assault to the lady with a foreign object, smothering with a pillow and I think it started out somewhere on the coast. The couple that was transported in the freezer were alive to begin with. I think it was for money. I'll keep the paper. I would hate to be on the jury and hear all that. I heard the jury would be sequestered her e in HBG and have to even work Saturday. Didn't the court have to go to Vicksburg to get an unbiased jury?

[SoMissTV]

The jury is from Warren County, which includes Vicksburg.

[daisy]

There will be live coverage at 6 on WDAM today.

[Kitty]

The couple that was transported in the freezer were alive to begin with.

Alive when they were stuffed in the freezer? From what I recall reading in the HA, one had been decapitated and the arms on both had been cut off--the arms removed in order to fit the bodies into the freezer.

(I would hate to be on the jury, having to view the crime photos and other physical evidence. I'm sure it's difficult for the victims' families to sit through that, too.)

[MSQueen]

on the 6:00 news today on Wdam, they said that the girl was tortured, trying to make her give a combination to a safe that was supposed to have money in it (i think). the DA's office said she was stripped, sexually assaulted with a beer bottle, smothered with a pillow, her throat slit with a knife, and dismembered.

when they said something about using a knife to slit her throat, it showed the female start to shake her head "no" and almost speaking and saying "no", as if that wasn't what happened.

people like that, IMO, should have a special place reserved for them in Hell! so sick!

[noway]

Jurors see photos of slaying victims (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/NEWS01/60803007)


Shocking to read about exactly what happen to these people. I have not heard of a defense that Lisa Jo was insane.. After reading the details of these murders she has to be crazy.. The question is captial murder or murder?

[CuriousOne]

It would all depend on whether or not they took the safe I believe. They did steal the truck though so there is an underlying felony and it would be considered capital murder I believe. Something about alleged killers didn't like the girlfriend because she caused a wreck (no details on that yet). Gillet asked Hulett (victim) for the combo to the safe but didn't get it so he slit his throat but evidently that didn't kill him because the autopsy gave the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head (hammer to one side of his head). Gillet then attempted, with the help of Lisa Jo, to get the combination out of Hulett's girlfriend but she couldn't remember it. They tortured her, several cuts were on her body, sexually assaulted her with a bottle, slit her throat, duct taped a bag around her head, smothered her with a pillow then dismembered her and Hulett to get them into the freezor. They drove to Kansas in Hulett's girlfriend's truck and dumped the clothes in a landfill and the freezor was in a woodshed at a farm house plugged in & running.

She deserves the death penalty. Hopefully justice will be served.

[noway]

I disagree with the death penalty in this case.. Gillett had more to do with the murder IMO. Why not just steal the safe take it to the woods get a torch and open the damm thing.. I really doubt a fortune was in the safe..

[CuriousOne]

I doubt it too. I also doubt that it was the real motive. Sounds more like some deep seeded anger issues with the couple. I lay the same guilt on the both of them in my eyes. She did nothing to prevent or stop the killings. At one point, as they were holding her jerking body down as they tried to suffocate her... Lisa Jo stated "this is taking too long". How inconsiderate of the victim to take soo much time out of Lisa Jo's schedule to die.

[daisy]

I don't know about the girl's sanity or insanity. I do know 2 people were tortured and killed at the hands of these 2 people for a penny or a billion dollars . These people will never breathe again because of these 2's actions. I do know there are mean and evil people in this world. I know I am proud to have the caliber of people in that courtroom--John Mark
Weathers,and Judge Bob Helfrich. I don't know the others. I have no problems with the death penalty for these people after what they did.

I heard where Michael Adelman protested the showing of the photographs of the bodies as evidence and Judge Bob Helfrich allowed them in. I agree-it's part of what happened. I am glad we have champions for live and dead victims at the hands of violent people.

[PathFinder]

WOW...Both the prosecution and defense have rest. Defense calls NO witnesses (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/NEWS01/60803010)!

[CuriousOne]

She states that she wasn't there but has no alibi? Yeah, I believe that... whatever! I'd say the verdict is pretty clear in this trial. I'd say she was definitely an accessory after the fact of capital murder of Hulett and guilty of the capital murder Heintzelman. There are witnesses and confessions to prove it. Tomorrow will be closing arguments so by the end of the day (probably by lunch) we'll know her fate.

[Omerto]

Just to clarify - the arms and head were only cut off on Vernon Hulett, not Linda Heintzelman.

[CuriousOne]

I had heard that the man's head and arms were removed but I had thought that the girl had to be dismembered also. I could be wrong.

[Omerto]

I had heard that the man's head and arms were removed but I had thought that the girl had to be dismembered also. I could be wrong.

No, Heintzelman was not dismembered. I saw the photos in court today.

[CuriousOne]

She must have been small. They said that her body was frozen to the bottom of the freezor and they had to defrost it before they could remove her. I apologize for the misinterpretation. I didn't mean to mislead anyone. The facts are horrible enough.

[Omerto]

She must have been small. They said that her body was frozen to the bottom of the freezor and they had to defrost it before they could remove her. I apologize for the misinterpretation. I didn't mean to mislead anyone. The facts are horrible enough.

No she wasn't small either. I was very surprised at how large she was. She was in a fetal position in the bottom of the freezer. The pathologist stated he had to wait a day to let her thaw before he could perform the autopsy.

[PathFinder]

Omerto, I was wondering..since you may be one of the few members of this site that has actually been in the courtroom, I was curious as to the mood or vibe your getting from the courtroom. I just can't imagine being one of the family members and seeing and hearing such graphic accounts of my loved ones final time here on earth.

[CuriousOne]

Wow... I'm sure today was a tough day to be in the courtroom. It was a grizzly murder and I'm glad that they allowed the visuals. The jury needed to see what they did to these people.

[Omerto]

Omerto, I was wondering..since you may be one of the few members of this site that has actually been in the courtroom, I was curious as to the mood or vibe your getting from the courtroom. I just can't imagine being one of the family members and seeing and hearing such graphic accounts of my loved ones final time here on earth.

It was very somber. The family excused themselves when the pathologist took the stand, a wise decision. I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through and have gone through for the past two years.

I must say I am thankful for our prosecutors (and judge). They did a fine job in presenting the facts, evidence, etc. and considering the fact that it only took a day and 1/2 for a Capital Murder case, I can't help but believe it's a slam dunk.

[Omerto]

No she wasn't small either. I was very surprised at how large she was. She was in a fetal position in the bottom of the freezer. The pathologist stated he had to wait a day to let her thaw before he could perform the autopsy.

After seeing her picture on the news tonight, I have to believe that her size in the autopsy photos were from the post mordum swelling, because she did not appear to be a large woman on tv tonight. :smt102

[justme]

It will not be capital murder in less the murders were committed in the commission of a felony. The prosecution has to prove that the killers were ini the commission of the theft of the safe at the time the killings happened. The later stealing of the truck does not count - that was after the murders. I think this is a horrible crime, but when it comes to the death penalty- you have to make sure that you have the facts and the proper crimes. Unless the murder's confessed that they were attempting to steal the safe- where do these facts come from. Had they tampered with the safe? I did not realize this case was already over. I wonder when the jury will come back. I don't think it will be today if the defense rested late yesterday. I presume the closing statements have already been made as well. I would say at least a full day of deliberations.

[daisy]

I'm confused on capital murder and murder. So if someone tortured and murdered me it's not as serious an offense unless they were trying to rob me, kidnap me,etc; I think I would have still been tortured and killed.

Someone, please help me out. I'm still cringing thinking @what happened to those two victims.

Does it all have to do with the sentencing? Getting the facts straight the 2 living did kill the twodead people, right. That is an established fact right.?

[CuriousOne]

She said she and Gillett left the house with Heintzelman alive but Gillett said, "Let's go back and finish what we started."

I was under the impression that the murders were committed in the commission of the felony taking of a motor vehiclel. I wish I could have been in the courtroom and heard all the evidence. I took the above to mean that they left in the vehicle then came back to kill the girl? To my knowledge they haven't said what happened to the safe.

[justme]

Here is the complete code section if it helps:

MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972
As Amended
http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/redline.gif
SEC. 97-3-19. Homicide; murder defined; capital murder; lesser-included offenses.
(1) The killing of a human being without the authority of law by any means or in any manner shall be murder in the following cases:
(a) When done with deliberate design to effect the death of the person killed, or of any human being;
(b) When done in the commission of an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved heart, regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual;
(c) When done without any design to effect death by any person engaged in the commission of any felony other than rape, kidnapping, burglary, arson, robbery, sexual battery, unnatural intercourse with any child under the age of twelve (12), or nonconsensual unnatural intercourse with mankind, or felonious abuse and/or battery of a child in violation of subsection (2) of Section 97-5-39 (http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/97/005/0039.htm), or in any attempt to commit such felonies;
(d) When done with deliberate design to effect the death of an unborn child.
(2) The killing of a human being without the authority of law by any means or in any manner shall be capital murder in the following cases:
(a) Murder which is perpetrated by killing a peace officer or fireman while such officer or fireman is acting in his official capacity or by reason of an act performed in his official capacity, and with knowledge that the victim was a peace officer or fireman. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "peace officer" means any state or federal law enforcement officer, including, but not limited to, a federal park ranger, the sheriff of or police officer of a city or town, a conservation officer, a parole officer, a judge, senior status judge, special judge, district attorney, legal assistant to a district attorney, county prosecuting attorney or any other court official, an agent of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the State Tax Commission, an agent of the Bureau of Narcotics, personnel of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the employees of the Department of Corrections who are designated as peace officers by the Commissioner of Corrections pursuant to Section 47-5-54 (http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/47/005/0054.htm), and the superintendent and his deputies, guards, officers and other employees of the Mississippi State Penitentiary;
(b) Murder which is perpetrated by a person who is under sentence of life imprisonment;
(c) Murder which is perpetrated by use or detonation of a bomb or explosive device;
(d) Murder which is perpetrated by any person who has been offered or has received anything of value for committing the murder, and all parties to such a murder, are guilty as principals;
(e) When done with or without any design to effect death, by any person engaged in the commission of the crime of rape, burglary, kidnapping, arson, robbery, sexual battery, unnatural intercourse with any child under the age of twelve (12), or nonconsensual unnatural intercourse with mankind, or in any attempt to commit such felonies;
(f) When done with or without any design to effect death, by any person engaged in the commission of the crime of felonious abuse and/or battery of a child in violation of subsection (2) of Section 97-5-39 (http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/97/005/0039.htm), or in any attempt to commit such felony;
(g) Murder which is perpetrated on educational property as defined in Section 97-37-17 (http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/97/037/0017.htm);
(h) Murder which is perpetrated by the killing of any elected official of a county, municipal, state or federal government with knowledge that the victim was such public official.
(3) An indictment for murder or capital murder shall serve as notice to the defendant that the indictment may include any and all lesser included offenses thereof, including, but not limited to, manslaughter.
SOURCES: Codes, Hutchinson's 1848, ch. 64, art. 12, Title 2 (3, 4); 1857, ch. 64, art. 165; 1871, Sec. 2628; 1880, Sec. 2875; 1892, Sec. 1149; 1906, Sec. 1227; Hemingway's 1917, Sec. 957; 1930, Sec. 985; 1942, Sec. 2215; Laws, 1974, ch. 576, Sec. 6(1, 2); 1983, ch. 429, Sec. 1; 1992, ch. 508, Sec. 1, eff from and after July 1, 1992. Laws, 1996, ch. 422, Sec. 3, eff from and after passage (approved March 25, 1996); Laws, 1998, Ch. 588, § 1, SB 2868, eff July 1, 1998. Amended by Laws 2000, Ch. 516, Sec. 134, HB666; Laws, 2004, ch. 393, § 1, SB 2438; Laws, 2004, ch. 515, § 2, HB 352, eff from and after passage (approved May 4, 2004). PREVIOUS VERSIONS: Pre-2004 (http://www.mscode.com/free/archives/2003/97/003/0019.htm)

[justme]

What they are most likely charged with is (2) (e)
"(e) When done with or without any design to effect death, by any person engaged in the commission of the crime of rape, burglary, kidnapping, arson, robbery, sexual battery, unnatural intercourse with any child under the age of twelve (12), or nonconsensual unnatural intercourse with mankind, or in any attempt to commit such felonies; "

They were not engaged in the commissison of stealing the vehicle at the time the murders occoured. That was after. The murders had to happen during a time period that is considered to be "engaged in the commission of" one of the crimes listed. This is the sticky part and is the part that people- the general public does not understand. It is hard to prove, and hard to defend against. It is tough on both sides. OF course the prosecution is going to argue this was in the commission of theft - robbery of the safe- the defense is going to argue that it was not.

[CuriousOne]

edited because justme is faster with the keys than I am!


Now to me, the sexual battery (assault with the bottle) should be considered the commission of a felony and it took place during the murders. Also, if she was an accessory to the murder of Hulett then that occurred at the same time that the murder of Heintzelman and therefore would constitute a capital murder charge. I'm not a lawyer but I have been working with law enforcement and the court system for about eight years. I'm sure a good lawyer could get her off on a technicality but to me what she did was capital and the most horrific form of murder.

[justme]

CuriousOne-
You gotta go with the attempted robbery on this one. The assault with the beer bottle is inclusive of the torture/murder. I agree this is horriffic, and I belive the death penalty is appropriate in this matter. I just hope the facts that support the attempted robbery are there, and are sufficent enough to allow a jury to come back with capital murder, AND for the appeallate courts to agree with the jury's verdit.

We all have to remember that just becuase the jury comes back with Capital Murder, the real work for the lawyers starts after the verdict and is fought out in the appellate courts.

[CuriousOne]

But if a victim is raped and then murdered, that constitutes capital right? So why would sexual battery be different?

[Omerto]

The prosecutors are charging her with Capital Murder because of the fact she was in the commission of the crime of Robbery when the murders occured, which would fall under 97-3-19 (2e) stating: (2) The killing of a human being without the authority of law by any means or in any manner shall be capital murder in the following cases: (e) When done with or without any design to effect death, by any person engaged in the commission of the crime of rape, burglary, kidnapping, arson, robbery, sexual battery, unnatural intercourse with any child under the age of twelve (12), or nonconsensual unnatural intercourse with mankind, or in any attempt to commit such felonies.

[Omerto]

I heard the jury has already reached a verdict.

[wilebill]

Guilty on 2 counts of capital murder. (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060804/NEWS01/60804006)

[wilebill]

Sentenced to death by lethal injection. (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060804/NEWS01/60804014)

This was one of the quickest murder trials I've ever heard of, from start to sentencing.

[noway]

Did you read todays HA? Very interesting story and I thought a wonderful job by Nikki Davis Maute

Murder most foul (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060813/NEWS01/608130316/1002)

[lamarrebel]

It was a good story, but the story's title was pretty ho-hum. Murder under any circumstance is "most foul".