BoogyMan
01-08-2007, 05:15 PM
Arrrrrggggghhhhhhh!
Source: Link Here (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-bk-lunsford010807,0,7510455.story?coll=sfla-news-florida)
INVERNESS -- Jurors deciding the fate of the man accused of kidnapping, raping and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford will not hear statements he allegedly made to detectives questioning him about an unrelated case, a judge ruled Monday.
Circuit Judge Ric Howard said Orlando police detectives should not have been allowed to question John Evander Couey about a 1985 murder case because he had already told Citrus County authorities he wanted a lawyer -- the same reason a taped confession to Jessica's slaying was thrown out in June.
The statements Howard ruled on Monday involve unrecorded comments Couey allegedly gave to Orlando police after he was arrested in March 2005. They asked Couey about the unsolved 1985 murder of 15-year-old Regina Armstrong because he had grown up near Orlando.
Orlando police Detective Joel Wright testified Friday that Couey told him: "I wish I could help you, but I can't ... If I did it I would tell you, they can only kill me once."
Assistant Public Defender Dan Lewan said that the questioning violated Couey's right to an attorney and his right to remain silent. Prosecutors argued that those rights didn't apply to questioning in cases unrelated to Jessica's death.
Couey has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, sexual battery on a child, kidnapping and burglary in the girl's death. His trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 12 with jury selection in Miami. The trial was moved to South Florida in the hopes of finding an unbiased jury.
Prosecutors have said they were confident physical evidence would be enough to convict Couey and secure a death sentence. Authorities found Jessica's body in March 2005 after Couey told them where to look near her Homosassa home in central Florida. She had been missing for about a month.
Source: Link Here (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-bk-lunsford010807,0,7510455.story?coll=sfla-news-florida)
INVERNESS -- Jurors deciding the fate of the man accused of kidnapping, raping and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford will not hear statements he allegedly made to detectives questioning him about an unrelated case, a judge ruled Monday.
Circuit Judge Ric Howard said Orlando police detectives should not have been allowed to question John Evander Couey about a 1985 murder case because he had already told Citrus County authorities he wanted a lawyer -- the same reason a taped confession to Jessica's slaying was thrown out in June.
The statements Howard ruled on Monday involve unrecorded comments Couey allegedly gave to Orlando police after he was arrested in March 2005. They asked Couey about the unsolved 1985 murder of 15-year-old Regina Armstrong because he had grown up near Orlando.
Orlando police Detective Joel Wright testified Friday that Couey told him: "I wish I could help you, but I can't ... If I did it I would tell you, they can only kill me once."
Assistant Public Defender Dan Lewan said that the questioning violated Couey's right to an attorney and his right to remain silent. Prosecutors argued that those rights didn't apply to questioning in cases unrelated to Jessica's death.
Couey has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, sexual battery on a child, kidnapping and burglary in the girl's death. His trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 12 with jury selection in Miami. The trial was moved to South Florida in the hopes of finding an unbiased jury.
Prosecutors have said they were confident physical evidence would be enough to convict Couey and secure a death sentence. Authorities found Jessica's body in March 2005 after Couey told them where to look near her Homosassa home in central Florida. She had been missing for about a month.