Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 3

[rogue ant]

Agree in that I also think it's possible this brutal crime could have been all about Stines protecting himself, as opposed to Stines enacting revenge or having any real fear for his family's safety. Jmo

I don't think that scenario holds water because he did it on camera (and he would have known they were there), so he had to figure he would be sent to jail for a lengthy period of time. Being LE, he would not be safer in jail than on the outside.

 

[renah]

It certainly IS very difficult to prove insanity. The fact that the defense is now changing their approach, and looking at the timing of it, I wonder if they've done some medical testing and have only recently received the results. I'm thinking of something irrefutable like evidence of a brain tumor.

IMO it would have to be something physical like a brain anomaly because the video evidence is so stark and appears quite cold-blooded. Depression, delusional thinking, even schizophrenia won't be enough to overcome what the jurors will see and there's no way his lawyers could possibly believe otherwise.

IMO.

 

[vls12345]

I don't think that scenario holds water because he did it on camera (and he would have known they were there), so he had to figure he would be sent to jail for a lengthy period of time. Being LE, he would not be safer in jail than on the outside.

I don't think there has ever been any info released re: the camera in Mullins' chambers. When was it put there? Where was footage stored? Who knew it was in place? Was it motion-activated or did it run 24/7? I don't think we know if Stines knew about the existence of the camera or not.

Also, with his repeated "treat me fair" statements after arrest, maybe he thought he would be waiting for his trial under home confinement or be released as "professional courtesy ". Maybe he didn't think he would be sitting in jail this entire time. (Up to that point, he had been a big fish in a little pond and maybe had the expectation of that continuing.)

All MOO.

 

[Occam's Zebra]

It certainly IS very difficult to prove insanity. The fact that the defense is now changing their approach, and looking at the timing of it, I wonder if they've done some medical testing and have only recently received the results. I'm thinking of something irrefutable like evidence of a brain tumor.

IMO it would have to be something physical like a brain anomaly because the video evidence is so stark and appears quite cold-blooded. Depression, delusional thinking, even schizophrenia won't be enough to overcome what the jurors will see and there's no way his lawyers could possibly believe otherwise.

IMO.

Defense could argue that a sane person would not kill someone methodically, in full view of a video camera. But if you're "insane," you don't care.

Not IMHO or MOO but just spinning what the defense could come up with to explain away the video evidence in line with the insanity defense.

(That said, did the sheriff not turn himself in afterward? That implies to me that he knew he had done something wrong.)

 

[ilovewings]

I have always thought most of the time an insanity defense is what is left after there is no other valid defense left for the defendant----From what I recall about this defense, it has to be proven the defendant did not know right from wrong----

 

[Rosydecember]

I have always thought most of the time an insanity defense is what is left after there is no other valid defense left for the defendant----From what I recall about this defense, it has to be proven the defendant did not know right from wrong----

I know the basis for insanity would be knowing or not knowing right from wrong; however, what if a brain tumor was affecting their thought process and judgement. How would that work? Would that tumor still be a basis for insanity plea or is that something else?

 

[katydid23]

I know the basis for insanity would be knowing or not knowing right from wrong; however, what if a brain tumor was affecting their thought process and judgement. How would that work? Would that tumor still be a basis for insanity plea or is that something else?

The problem with that is it's very easy to medically prove if one has a brain tumour or not. Does Stines have a brain tumour?

 

[Rosydecember]

The problem with that is it's very easy to medically prove if one has a brain tumour or not. Does Stines have a brain tumour?

No, we don’t know. Hypothetically speaking, i feel that if one has a brain tumor they would still know right from wrong. Would that criteria be ok to bypass if a tumor existed?

 

[arielilane]

I guess Stines & his defense team are starting to realize that murdering a judge, including a final "kill" shot, on camera is going to be hard to overcome, especially since the judge did not appear to be aggressive, angry, or even really defending himself in any way (other than trying to duck & hide).

Stines should be convicted on 1st degree murder charges & never be let out of prison. He's a potential danger to everyone.

MOO.

100%. First degree murder is hard to prove; however, when you have video of the homicide, good luck with defending that. moo

 

[arielilane]

Mullins wide jurisdiction as judge included misdemeanors, traffic offenses, arraignments, small claims, civil cases and probate of wills, among other things, according to a Letcher County website.

Kentucky Sheriff Accused of Killing Judge In his Chambers Plans to Present Insanity Defense

The Kentucky sheriff who is accused of killing a district judge plans to present an insanity defense.

people.com

3/7/2025

 

[ilovewings]

I know the basis for insanity would be knowing or not knowing right from wrong; however, what if a brain tumor was affecting their thought process and judgement. How would that work? Would that tumor still be a basis for insanity plea or is that something else?

Google Search

 

[ilovewings]

Google Search

Please see above explanation of using insanity defense if someone has a brain tumor, which I believe would not apply in this case anyway, but it is good to know.

 

[Tricia]

We were busy with other true crime cases last week and did not get a chance to discuss Mickey Stines and the announcement of his insanity defense. We hope you will join us tonight at 10:30 P.M. Eastern for Websleuths YouTube Live

 

[cenazoic]

Interesting article about a mother who murdered her child, and who had a verifiable brain tumor:

The brain tumor defense: Did an Alabama mother mean to kill her toddler?

Jordan Rice was arrested in 2018 in South Alabama after her 13-month-old daughter died from neglect. Now her attorney is arguing that a brain tumor made her unable to care for her children.

www.al.com

“Making the legal argument that a tumor caused uncontrollable criminal behavior is difficult, said Stephen J. Morse, a professor of law and psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. “

 

[Luna20]

Court Tv just released more video. Starts before lunch in a conference room where a few people were working. Stines steps in, Mullins comes behind him. Stines doesn’t sit down or stay.

Also footage of Stines walking through a long hallway. He looks anxious.

Then the group in the conference room and Mullins leave for lunch. Stines wasn’t in the group and it didn’t show Stines going in restaurant.

 

[Luna20]

Can any locals verify that smoking inside a public space is permitted there? I haven’t seen anyone smoking in a public building for years.

 

[Leilei]

Court Tv just released more video. Starts before lunch in a conference room where a few people were working. Stines steps in, Mullins comes behind him. Stines doesn’t sit down or stay.

Also footage of Stines walking through a long hallway. He looks anxious.

Then the group in the conference room and Mullins leave for lunch. Stines wasn’t in the group and it didn’t show Stines going in restaurant.

Strange, since it's been widely reported that they had lunch together that day, even reporting what they ate (wings and salad).
IMO.

 

[Luna20]

Strange, since it's been widely reported that they had lunch together that day, even reporting what they ate (wings and salad).
IMO.

Oh I just meant that they didn’t show Stines exit with the group to walk to the restaurant.

 

[worm]

Can any locals verify that smoking inside a public space is permitted there? I haven’t seen anyone smoking in a public building for years.

We had a judge in S.C. who smoked in court until the 90s.

 

[Luna20]

We had a judge in S.C. who smoked in court until the 90s.

That’s wild!

I’m curious about Mullins decision to smoke. It’s a weird place to smoke if it’s not allowed, high traffic and high anxiety.

A judge who makes decisions on people who don’t obey laws is a bit of irony. Laws are laws.