AL - Karen Shahan, 53, murdered, Homewood, 23 July 2013 #2

[Jewels53]

It baffles me why RS is on house arrest for murder, when he was going to flee the country. It is not like he is some celebrity. imo

 

[i.b.nora]

Prosecutor: samples available for testing by former Homewood pastor's defense team
The Birmingham News
By Kent Faulk
August 30, 2015 at 11:27 AM, updated August 30, 2015 at 11:58 AM

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/08/prosecutor_samples_available_f.html

“A prosecutor says samples taken from the body of Karen Shahan are still available for testing at a lab to be hired by attorneys for the woman's husband, Richard Shahan, the former Homewood pastor charged with murder in her 2013 stabbing death.”

*

“But Deputy Jefferson County District Attorney Patrick Lamb on Friday stated in a court document that there are samples available to the defense for independent testing.

Lamb explained the testing so far on the samples in which sperm was found.”

*

“Lentine and Sheffield have said that if they are able to test the samples again, and the DNA was not a match to Richard Shahan, it could lead to Richard Shahan's exoneration.

Petro had ordered prosecutors to provide defense attorneys by Nov. 6 a list of scientific experts – along with resumes and any reports they produce – who will be called as witnesses at Shahan's trial, which is now scheduled for April. Among the potential experts is an analyst who specializes in staged crime scenes.”​

Much more ... Some details regarding the DNA

 

[colette]

If the DNA does not not match Richard Shahan, it does not mean he didn't kill Karen. He could have easily had a tryst using condoms and brought some mystery man's DNA to the murder to try to stage the scene.

 

[PatEl]

From the article:

"The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences performed the original testing. One lone sperm was identified in swabs collected at the time of Karen Shahan's autopsy and a much greater amount of female epithelial cells in the samples, according to Lamb's filing."
...
""Y-STR analysis involves a technique which targets DNA on the Y chromosome, which is only specific to male individuals," Lamb stated."
...
"Cellmark, however, did not find a DNA profile from the Y-STR analysis and the lab found no other sperm in the samples, Lamb wrote."

It sounds to me like they found a single sperm cell in all of the samples, but could not get a DNA profile at all in order to match to someone. It's been a long time since I was in biology class, but I think the fact that only one sperm cell was found when there should be millions means it's likely she wasn't sexually assaulted as part of the attack. If I had to guess, I'd say it probably came from an encounter several days before her murder. That they couldn't get a DNA profile out of a single sperm cell doesn't seem surprising to me. Whether it was Richard's or not, it doesn't seem to be connected to her murder.

 

[SCHMAE]

If the DNA does not not match Richard Shahan, it does not mean he didn't kill Karen. He could have easily had a tryst using condoms and brought some mystery man's DNA to the murder to try to stage the scene.

I'm with you . I think some poor hapless fellow from across town is going to find himself in the middle of this case trying to explain how his semen got to a home he's never been to. How many will RS throw under the bus? **speculative**

 

[Deleted member 102539]

http://alerts.thealabamabaptist.org...ing-former-minister-shahans-pretrial-hearing/

According to wvtm13.com, Petro granted a motion for prosecution to show the defense any PowerPoint presentation they plan to use in opening statements and set Nov. 6 as the deadline for prosecution to provide the list of experts they plan to call at trial 8 months from now.


Defense attorneys also claim that the two samples of semen were used up in testing, which prevented them from independently testing the samples.
:facepalm:

He also is required to wear an electronic monitoring device.

His trial is set for April 18, 2016.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Wednesday’s hearing lasted just over an hour. The defense had a total of 10 motions they presented to the judge.

Richard Shahan was present for this hearing in which his attorneys made several requests.

There were two motions that were addressed in the privacy of the judge's chambers, so it’s unknown what those were pertaining to.

After the hearing, Shahans' attorneys addressed the question of whether or not so many motions were unusual in such a case.

“I think what we do, what we always do with all of our clients, is we do the absolute best that we can do and we ask for everything we’re entitled to. He’s entitled to a fair trial. We have a very good judge, a fair judge, and we’re just asking for those things we’re constitutionally entitled to,” attorney *Wendell Sheffield said.

Another motion that was previously filed in this case was to preserve all evidence.

Read more: http://www.wsmv.com/story/29833940/...astor-charged-with-wifes-murder#ixzz3mCP1zz44

* http://www.sheffieldlentine.com/about-our-attorneys-criminal-defense/

 

[Deleted member 102539]

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/08/prosecutor_samples_available_f.html

Prosecutor: Samples available for testing by former Homewood pastor's defense team

The defense has never received any reports that noted only one sperm existed or whether it was destroyed in the testing by the state lab or Cellmark, the two defense attorneys stated.

They have said that if they are able to test the samples again, and the DNA was not a match to Richard Shahan, it could lead to his exoneration.

Petro ordered prosecutors to provide defense attorneys by Nov. 6 a list of scientific experts – along with resumes and any reports they produce – who will be called as witnesses at Shahan's trial, which is now scheduled for April. Among the potential experts is an analyst who specializes in staged crime scenes.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/08/prosecutor_samples_available_f.html

Prosecutor: Samples available for testing by former Homewood pastor's defense team

The defense has never received any reports that noted only one sperm existed or whether it was destroyed in the testing by the state lab or Cellmark, the two defense attorneys stated.

They have said that if they are able to test the samples again, and the DNA was not a match to Richard Shahan, it could lead to his exoneration.

Petro ordered prosecutors to provide defense attorneys by Nov. 6 a list of scientific experts – along with resumes and any reports they produce – who will be called as witnesses at Shahan's trial, which is now scheduled for April. Among the potential experts is an analyst who specializes in staged crime scenes.

Very interesting that there is a possibility that an expert in analyzing staged crime scenes may be brought in as a witness!

:waitasec:

 

[SCHMAE]

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/08/prosecutor_samples_available_f.html

Prosecutor: Samples available for testing by former Homewood pastor's defense team

The defense has never received any reports that noted only one sperm existed or whether it was destroyed in the testing by the state lab or Cellmark, the two defense attorneys stated.

They have said that if they are able to test the samples again, and the DNA was not a match to Richard Shahan, it could lead to his exoneration.

Petro ordered prosecutors to provide defense attorneys by Nov. 6 a list of scientific experts – along with resumes and any reports they produce – who will be called as witnesses at Shahan's trial, which is now scheduled for April. Among the potential experts is an analyst who specializes in staged crime scenes.

So RS 's defense is going to try to paint Karen as the one who was having an affair? Some unknown semen ( or more than one) is found and that is the killer? He's going to sully her name to attempt to clear himself? DISGUSTING ! You are a sick man and while you may not feel much like a preacher anymore surely some of what you learned or read can remind you that what you're doing is very , very wrong.

I'm so sorry guys, but we follow a lot of cases and may forget a detail now and then. Was Karen raped during the crime? Or are all of these semen samples supposed to be from some consensual sex prior to her death ? TIA

 

[Deleted member 102539]

So RS 's defense is going to try to paint Karen as the one who was having an affair? Some unknown semen ( or more than one) is found and that is the killer? He's going to sully her name to attempt to clear himself? DISGUSTING ! You are a sick man and while you may not feel much like a preacher anymore surely some of what you learned or read can remind you that what you're doing is very , very wrong.

I'm so sorry guys, but we follow a lot of cases and may forget a detail now and then. Was Karen raped during the crime? Or are all of these semen samples supposed to be from some consensual sex prior to her death ? TIA

As I know, it was found only on her clothing (no sex or rape). Staged "perverse burglar"?? :gaah:

 

[Fairy1]

As I know, it was found only on her clothing (no sex or rape). Staged "perverse burglar"?? :gaah:

I'm thinking they should test the DNA of the pastor's lovers.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/11/18/should-indiana-pastor-be-cleared-murder-pregnant-wife

Questions, Inconsistencies Remain in Murder of Indiana Pastor's Wife

If interested, you should read the WS thread (see on top of this thread as a new one, "CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST").

 

[colette]

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/11/18/should-indiana-pastor-be-cleared-murder-pregnant-wife

Questions, Inconsistencies Remain in Murder of Indiana Pastor's Wife

If interested, you should read the WS thread (see on top of this thread as a new one, "CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST").

That is an old article and the men who killed Amanda have been caught, her husband is innocent.

 

[Jewels53]

http://alerts.thealabamabaptist.org...ing-former-minister-shahans-pretrial-hearing/

According to wvtm13.com, Petro granted a motion for prosecution to show the defense any PowerPoint presentation they plan to use in opening statements and set Nov. 6 as the deadline for prosecution to provide the list of experts they plan to call at trial 8 months from now.


Defense attorneys also claim that the two samples of semen were used up in testing, which prevented them from independently testing the samples.
:facepalm:

He also is required to wear an electronic monitoring device.

His trial is set for April 18, 2016.

I wonder when Richards next court appearance is, his trial is supposed to be in April? I can't seem to find anything in the news. Was anything ever decided about the DNA? Anyone know?

 

[Stiles]

ABC/3340 reports Richard Shahan murder trial delayed until January 9, 2017.

 

[CountryGirl]

ABC/3340 reports Richard Shahan murder trial delayed until January 9, 2017.

He's still free. Such a deal!

 

[Sulamith]

ABC/3340 reports Richard Shahan murder trial delayed until January 9, 2017.

That is friggin' nuts. No reason given for delay.

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2016/03/murder_trial_of_former_homewoo.html

 

[meanmaryjean]

Whiskey.
Tango.
Foxtrot.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

What if RS brought a small utensil with specific content (from someone very young and unknown to police) to stage the scene ...?