GUILTY GA - Lauren Giddings, 27, Macon, 26 June 2011 #15 *appeals denied*

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Bibb committee approves $500K to move trial, likely McDaniel case

...In a development that more than hints that the high-profile murder case will be heard elsewhere, the Macon-Bibb County Commission’s Operations & Finance Committee unanimously approved $500,000 Tuesday to pay for “special litigation” in an unnamed case. ...


...A final vote on the measure by the full commission probably will be March 18.


Earlier this year, McDaniel’s lawyers requested a change of venue, citing pretrial publicity.


Bibb Superior Court Judge Howard Simms, the presiding judge in the case, has yet to issue a ruling on moving the trial. ...


Although the exact cost of the trial is unclear, it won’t cost anywhere near $500,000, Simms said. ...
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more at: http://www.macon.com/2014/03/11/2984452/commissioners-approve-500k-to.html
 
So the trial will be moved and Bibb county has to pay for it? Seriously where would they move it? Many surrounding counties are far more "hang em high" unless it goes to Dekalb or Clayton etc....

Please explain Backwoods...I haven't followed the latest news stuff (abandoned Macon.com ages ago and now only occasionally send cards).
 
Perhaps this explains it.

Mayor Robert Reichert said he was told that if the trial remained in Bibb County, it could require calling 500 jurors to get a jury untainted by prior publicity.

The cost of moving the trial elsewhere and seeking a jury there likely would be cheaper than having the trial in Bibb County, Reichert said.
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Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2014/03/11/2984452/commissioners-approve-500k-to.html#storylink=cpy

As of March 11, the date of the article, there was no order yet granting the change of venue, and no money spent on expenses relating to an out of town trial.

:waitasec: Would calling 500 jurors really incur more expense than relocating the trial?
​
 
bessie said:
Perhaps this explains it.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2014/03/11/2984452/commissioners-approve-500k-to.html#storylink=cpy

As of March 11, the date of the article, there was no order yet granting the change of venue, and no money spent on expenses relating to an out of town trial.

:waitasec: Would calling 500 jurors really incur more expense than relocating the trial?
​
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I seriously think a Bibb County jury would be a good thing for the defense.

Did the defense ask for a change or venue or is the mayor asking for money "just because".

Floore says the judge didn't say how the money would be used, but Commissioner Scotty Shepherd says it's believed it'll help cover the costs of the Stephen McDaniel murder trial.
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It is believed? Okay then. Good ole' Bibb County....glad I don't live there!
 
Sonya610 said:
So the trial will be moved and Bibb county has to pay for it? Seriously where would they move it? Many surrounding counties are far more "hang em high" unless it goes to Dekalb or Clayton etc....

Please explain Backwoods...I haven't followed the latest news stuff (abandoned Macon.com ages ago and now only occasionally send cards).
Click to expand...

Bibb County has to pay for the trial wherever it takes place, but I guess if it took place in Macon, with Bibb County jurors, it would all just go in the "regular" Superior Court budget with other cases.

Nowadays, if the trial actually moves (rather than having jurors "imported" from elsewhere), it is not necessarily to one of the close-surrounding counties. There's been mention that Henry County has been looked at as a possibility, for example. (Although that's not so far away.)

Sonya610 said:
I seriously think a Bibb County jury would be a good thing for the defense.

Did the defense ask for a change or venue or is the mayor asking for money "just because".



It is believed? Okay then. Good ole' Bibb County....glad I don't live there!
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bbm: Yes, the defense did ask for the change of venue, because of extensive pretrial local media coverage. (IMO, especially because of some things that were bandied about during the motion hearings in mid-January.) Then, a few days after the defense's motion, the judge imposed a gag order.
 
Looks like official word:

McDaniel trial moved to Henry County

...The trial is scheduled to begin April 28 at the courthouse in downtown McDonough, located about 60 miles north of Macon. ...


...In the “consent order” moving the trial, (Judge)Simms described media coverage as “incessant” and wrote that news stories have contained sensational information and inaccuracies. ...


...Coverage of the murder case also has included references to the separate 30 counts of sexual exploitation of children filed against McDaniel. ...


...References to the separate charges has become “intertwined” in potential jurors’ minds, according to the order. ...
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more at: http://www.macon.com/2014/03/19/2999609/mcdaniel-trial-moved-to-henry.html
 
Three area TV stations also announcing Henry County:

13WMAZ had a longer segment at 6 p.m. that included a phone interview with Lauren's sister Kaitlyn, but I haven't yet been able to locate that part online -- maybe some of you can.

http://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/crime/giddings-case/2014/03/19/mcdaniel-trial-change-venue/6614201/




24/WGXA: Not sure how accurate the statement I've quoted is --

McDaniel Trial Moved to Henry County


...The Bibb County District Attorney's Office says there is no exact date set for the trial, but it could take place by May 1st. ...
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more at: http://www.wgxa.tv/story/mcdaniel-trial-moved-to-henry-county-20140319


41WMGT:

Judge Moves McDaniel Trial to Henry County

...Judge Simms points out concerns about finding an impartial jury..., writing "a sizeable portion of the jury pool has already formed and expressed opinions on guilt and innocence. ...
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more at: http://www.41nbc.com/news/local-news/32580-judge-moves-mcdaniel-trial-to-henry-county
 
Thanks Backwoods. Hoping the trial begins on time, it's been a long wait for Lauren's family and friends.
 
Not directly relating to Lauren's case (at least, not right now -- you never know), but for those who remember the retirement of Judge Phillip Brown (who was on the case), an appointment has been made to fill the judgeship vacancy he left behind. (Judge Simms, of course, took over on Lauren's case.):

Governor appoints new Superior Court judge

...Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney Verda M. Colvin to fill the Superior Court judgeship vacated by last year’s retirement of Macon Judicial Circuit Judge S. Phillip Brown.


Colvin will be the first black female Superior Court judge appointed in the circuit, which spans Bibb, Crawford and Peach counties. She will be the second female judge, following Judge Martha Christian and the second black judge, following Judge W. Louis Sands. ...
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more at: http://www.macon.com/2014/03/24/300...-superior.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop
 
1922518_663670450356121_486398708_n.jpg


https://www.facebook.com/LaurenTeresaGiddings
 
I just don't know if I can take hearing the details of Laurens case.

I can't reconcile her beautiful life with her horrific death.

Why am I filled with such loathing when I see that persons picture?

I just can't believe he stole her life that should have been filled to the brim with wonderful things.
 
April coming up -- a big month in this case. The 5K ... Lauren's birthday ... and, likely, finally, the start of the trial.

Prayers for all whose lives have been torn or touched by Lauren's murder in June 2011. Including all the faithful posters/readers here.
 
That blog is okay to link to, BW. The recap is good.
 
bessie said:
That blog is okay to link to, BW. The recap is good.
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I thought the recap was decent, also.

I hope the blogger will make good on the promise to update when the trial starts.

I'm curious -- a little worried, actually -- about what kind of media coverage we'll get of the trial, with it having moved away from Macon/Bibb. Oh, I'm sure the Macon media outlets will follow it to the extent that they are allowed; I'm getting kinda worried, though -- and I wasn't so much, earlier -- that the judge might ban cameras or something? Surely not...

Really, really hope that somehow we will be able to WATCH in its entirety, but I don't know how much chance there is of that.

I think the change of venue was the right thing to do for this case, but I doubt I will be able to make it up to Henry Co. to attend any of the trial -- not impossible, but less likely than if it were in Macon.
 
Well, just cruised over to macon.com and found this:

Stay requested in McDaniel civil case

...In an “unopposed motion” to stay the civil proceedings until after Stephen McDaniel’s criminal trial, the Giddingses’ lawyers allege that McDaniel’s lawyer has said “he was instructed not to answer the discovery by Judge Howard Simms.” ...


...The Giddingses’ lawyers, Richard Schneider and Kristin Miller, contend that the responses to discovery have been “inadequate,” but they say the trial’s completion may eliminate some of the objections to providing information....
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more at: http://www.macon.com/2014/03/31/3022737/stay-requested-in-mcdaniel-civil.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1

I read the article, but I'm not really sure I have a clue about what it really all means (not criticizing the writing -- rather, my grasp of the subject matter). Maybe it will make more sense to me tomorrow, after some rest.
 
Backwoods said:
Well, just cruised over to macon.com and found this:



more at: http://www.macon.com/2014/03/31/3022737/stay-requested-in-mcdaniel-civil.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1

I read the article, but I'm not really sure I have a clue about what it really all means (not criticizing the writing -- rather, my grasp of the subject matter). Maybe it will make more sense to me tomorrow, after some rest.
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bbm: Um, well -- the reporter at the link below seems pretty emphatic about his interpretation:

McDaniels lawyer wants to use gag order to delay civil suit
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http://www.macon.tv/news/local/3557-mcdaniels-lawyer-wants-to-use-gag-order-to-delay-civil-suit


That headline may be true, as far as it goes -- but not sure I think it's quite that simple.
 
Backwoods said:
bbm: Um, well -- the reporter at the link below seems pretty emphatic about his interpretation:




http://www.macon.tv/news/local/3557-mcdaniels-lawyer-wants-to-use-gag-order-to-delay-civil-suit


That headline may be true, as far as it goes -- but not sure I think it's quite that simple.
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I can't get the link to load so I'm not sure what it says, but there doesn't appear, to me, to be anything overly objectionable about the stay. Given that trial is this month, it makes sense to simply wait for that to end before proceeding with the civil suit.

I'm sure defense counsel is enjoying the gag order, because it gives them a (good) excuse not to comply with discovery. But my bet is they are not actually concerned with the civil case, they're probably more concerned about something getting produced in discovery would somehow be relevant to the criminal trial. (Remember, the prosecution typically doesn't get 'discovery' in a criminal case -- whereas in a civil case, you can require the other party to produce a broad range of documents and written answers.)
 
Hyrax said:
I can't get the link to load so I'm not sure what it says, but there doesn't appear, to me, to be anything overly objectionable about the stay. Given that trial is this month, it makes sense to simply wait for that to end before proceeding with the civil suit.

I'm sure defense counsel is enjoying the gag order, because it gives them a (good) excuse not to comply with discovery. But my bet is they are not actually concerned with the civil case, they're probably more concerned about something getting produced in discovery would somehow be relevant to the criminal trial. (Remember, the prosecution typically doesn't get 'discovery' in a criminal case -- whereas in a civil case, you can require the other party to produce a broad range of documents and written answers.)
Click to expand...


I'm agreeing with ya.

The headline in the link that wouldn't load for you reads "McDaniels lawyer wants to use gag order to delay civil suit" -- just thought that seemed a bit slanted.

(I'm sure along with you that the defense is not complaining about the gag order, in this respect, but after all, there IS a gag order. And further, the plaintiff filed the motion for the stay. )

Thanks for the input.

Link still loads for me, BTW.
 
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