McDaniel jurors will hear about knives, sword found in his apartmentBy JOE KOVAC JR.
November 20, 2013
The murder trial for the man accused of killing Mercer University law school graduate Lauren Giddings is scheduled to begin Feb. 3.
Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/11/20/2787542/new-trial-date-set-in-giddings.html#storylink=cpy
By JOE KOVAC JR.
December 12, 2013
Thursday’s pretrial hearing in Bibb County Superior Court marked the first time a videotaped police interrogation of McDaniel was made public.
The video offered a glimpse into the investigation in the late-night hours of June 30, 2011, when McDaniel was well on his way to becoming a suspect in the dismemberment murder of Lauren Giddings.
In other evidentiary concerns Thursday, Judge Howard Simms ruled to exclude talk at the February trial about inconclusive luminol tests for blood conducted on Giddings’ bathtub and bathroom tile.
Simms denied a defense motion that argued the “perfect murder” recollections shouldn’t be allowed at trial.
Simms also denied another defense motion to exclude a search of McDaniel’s body for scratches. Also, the judge will allow word of ponchos and an earring found in McDaniel’s car.
Prosecutors will also get to discuss door keys that police found in the apartment that would have given McDaniel access to Giddings’ apartment, as well as all others in their complex.
The judge will allow testimony that investigators found swords, knives and a stick-like weapon or staff in McDaniel’s apartment, but not guns or a baseball bat that turned up in searches.
...Simms will hear his first arguments in the case when he presides over pretrial-motions hearings slated for Dec. 12....
http://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/local/macon/2013/11/20/mcdaniel-motions-hearing-postponed/3650263/McDaniel trial pushed back to February
...That's according to Bibb County District Attorney David Cooke. He said lawyers in the case and Judge Howard Simms agreed to push the trial back a month in a conference Wednesday. ...
Bibb jail unveils new online visitation system
...On Wednesday, officials demonstrated the new videoconferencing system installed by Securus Technologies that allows family and friends to speak with inmates via a video system similar to Skype or FaceTime. Visitors can either visit the jail and communicate through one of 16 video terminals now installed there or have a visitation session at home. ...
I can't rid myself of the sense of foreboding in Lauren's case. I don't like it.
“He’s an amazing and unique young man,” Buford said. “I’ve gotten to know him very well.”
Local word/gossip from inside sources (MPD) says there is no hard core evidence and the prosecution will likely lose the case. Evidence collection/warrants are also likely to be an issue in court.
Buford's statement from the macon.com article is also rather errrrrmmmm.....vague and amusing:
Local word/gossip from inside sources (MPD) says there is no hard core evidence and the prosecution will likely lose the case. Evidence collection/warrants are also likely to be an issue in court.
http://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/cr.../12/11/mcdaniel-murder-motions-macon/3991061/Judge to hear motions in McDaniel murder case Thursday
more at: http://www.macon.com/2013/12/11/2827725/blood-tests-confession-under-attack.htmlBlood tests, confession under attack in McDaniel hearing
...In a motion filed earlier this week, the attorneys note that investigators used luminol spray, which under special lighting gives off a glow that can help detect blood. The luminol test indicated there may have been blood in Giddings’ bathtub.
One investigator wrote in a report that there were “substantial results,” that Giddings’ tub “glowed to a point two inches from the top rim of the tub.”
McDaniel’s lawyers, however, say there were no photographs taken of that “glow,” and that, more importantly, no actual blood was ever found.
Burglary evidence out in McDaniel murder case
A jury wont hear burglary allegations against Stephen McDaniel during his murder trial early next year. ...
more at: http://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/local/macon/2013/12/12/stephen-mcdaniel-court-hearing/3997269/Judge excludes part of McDaniel police questioning
Superior Court Judge Howard Simms threw out parts of the police questioning of Stephen McDaniel hours after Lauren Giddings' body was found in a trash bin.
The defense contends that McDaniel was effectively in custody during the questioning but was not read his rights to remain silent. ...
...The judge denied several defense motions challenging searches of McDaniel's apartment....
...Check back for updates and watch our live video stream of the hearing.
Door keys found in McDaniels apartment can be part of states evidence, judge rules