NOV 4, 2019
Kamille McKinney: Attorney says Patrick Stallworth innocent of child’s murder
The newly-appointed attorney for a man accused of killing of 3-year-old Kamille McKinney said his client maintains his innocence and wants the opportunity to clear his name.
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Veteran defense attorney Derrick Collins was appointed Monday morning to represent Stallworth on the capital murder charge. He already had been appointed to defend him on child *advertiser censored* charges filed shortly after Kamille’s abduction. Police have said none of the pornographic images were of Kamille.
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“It’s a bad situation for him. He’s very distraught. He’s just confused,’’ he said. “He’s trying to accept the situation he’s in and learning to try to deal with where he’s at.”
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...Security was high at the hearing, with 17 Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies stationed around the courtroom.
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Danneman said Monday he was not yet ready to make a statement on Brown’s behalf. He did ask the judge that their preliminary hearings be held separately, which the judge denied.
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Collins said after the hearing that it’s his understanding Brown has given police a statement against Stallworth and suspects ultimately the pair will be tried separately because of that. He said the couple had been together more than a year.
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While other attorneys turned down Stallworth’s request to represent him, Collins said he is not deterred by the nature of the crime. “They’re all tough because you have to deal with the community and public opinion,’’ Collins said. “This is what I do. This what I swore an oath to do. I’ve handled death penalty cases and capital murder cases for 20 years.”
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Collins said he will consider requesting a change of venue in the case. “If you look at public opinion, it seems he’s already been convicted at this point,’’ he said. ...
“There’s a question of whether he can get a fair trial anywhere in this state because this case is so publicized,’’ he said.
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It wasn’t immediately clear how long he lived at Woodside Condominiums – where he was initially arrested – but management there said he had lived in one building until it burned in September and then moved to his current rental apartment which was padlocked after his arrest.
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Patrick Stallworth's lawyer says he maintains he's innocent of Kamille McKinney's murder.
11:16 AM - 4 Nov 2019