Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 4

[tlcya]

Defense now arguing that if Stines is given bond they want him to be given $50,000 bond. State that is what he might be able to afford, says the commonwealth needs to prove he was some sort of flight risk or danger to self or others to hold him without bond.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Defense now arguing that if Stines is given bond they want him to be given $50,000 bond. State that is what he might be able to afford, says the commonwealth needs to prove he was some sort of flight risk or danger to self or others to hold him without bond.

Um, there's a video I've seen they might want to check out to see if he's a danger to anyone.

 

[Leilei]

Um, there's a video I've seen they might want to check out to see if he's a danger to anyone.

I mean, I understand that they have to fight for their client, but COME ON...
IMO

 

[worm]

I can’t believe that his lawyer argues with a straight face that he isn’t a threat as they cut to video of him gunning this man down without any hesitation.

 

[Leilei]

No decisions today.
Did they say meeting again in ten days?

 

[jepop]

I mean, I understand that they have to fight for their client, but COME ON...
IMO

Yeah wow,. I did a double take when defense argued for release on bond stating (paraphrase) ''Stines has been LE for his entire working life...has a great respect for the law...so won't miss court dates, not a flight risk...'.

I mean...respect for the law? Talk about a classic e.g. of counsel employing deliberate, wide-eyed disingenuity?!! Like you say, the major issue is surely the danger he poses to others and possibly himself. He executed a man in cold blood to the utter disbelief of respecting law abiding citizens, and that is very far from showing 'great respect' for the law.

Stines is unpredictable IMO and should not be out on bond. I think defense banging on about and emphasising flight risk is a disingenuous distraction from the real issue ie Stine's unpredictability, questionable mental stability and potential to be a danger to others and maybe himself (but more so others I think). Jmo

 

[scapa]

No decisions today.
Did they say meeting again in ten days?

Here's my timely and fairly informed decision, as a non-party to the case:

DO NOT RELEASE MICKEY STINES ON BAIL, AT ANY AMOUNT!!!

We have minutes of footage of the former Sheriff gunning down the Judge, on whatever one of the various alleged pretexts. I'm pretty sure that neither of the families nor the wider communities involved are keen to see Stines back on the streets and ready for the next bout of... whatever it was that drove him to the murder he's charged with.

The audacity. The cruelty. Basta!

IMO, Moo, etc.

 

[Ontario Mom]

From the outside looking in, I'd be inclined to agree that Stines is one scary dude, obviously capable of cold blooded murder.

The thing is though, we're all on the outside looking in, since none of us know him, or the people that know him, or have ever spoken to him, or really know anything about him other than what we all watched on what was most certainly his very worst day on earth (and Mullins as well, sadly).

Not that I'm defending Stines, but his lawyer does know him and has had all sorts of conversations with him and likely many others who know him. That might explain (at least in part) why he can say it with a straight face that Stines isn't a flight risk, or a danger to anyone else. I think the other part may also be that he already knows the judge isn't going to give him bail but he (Bartley) is just doing his job by requesting it.

 

[Leilei]

Here's my timely and fairly informed decision, as a non-party to the case:

DO NOT RELEASE MICKEY STINES ON BAIL, AT ANY AMOUNT!!!

We have minutes of footage of the former Sheriff gunning down the Judge, on whatever one of the various alleged pretexts. I'm pretty sure that neither of the families nor the wider communities involved are keen to see Stines back on the streets and ready for the next bout of... whatever it was that drove him to the murder he's charged with.

The audacity. The cruelty. Basta!

IMO, Moo, etc.

You might be surprised at the number of supporters he still has. Folks still believing the gossip, even though the family and the defense team said it's untrue.
I wonder what they're thinking now that it seems he's going for an insanity defense?
I don't believe he's insane, I think he was mad that he was getting caught in his own messy web.
Hopefully he'll pay the price.
IMO.

 

[LadyL]

Yeah wow,. I did a double take when defense argued for release on bond stating (paraphrase) ''Stines has been LE for his entire working life...has a great respect for the law...so won't miss court dates, not a flight risk...'.

I mean...respect for the law? Talk about a classic e.g. of counsel employing deliberate, wide-eyed disingenuity?!! Like you say, the major issue is surely the danger he poses to others and possibly himself. He executed a man in cold blood to the utter disbelief of respecting law abiding citizens, and that is very far from showing 'great respect' for the law.

Stines is unpredictable IMO and should not be out on bond. I think defense banging on about and emphasising flight risk is a disingenuous distraction from the real issue ie Stine's unpredictability, questionable mental stability and potential to be a danger to others and maybe himself (but more so others I think). Jmo

Here's my timely and fairly informed decision, as a non-party to the case:

DO NOT RELEASE MICKEY STINES ON BAIL, AT ANY AMOUNT!!!

We have minutes of footage of the former Sheriff gunning down the Judge, on whatever one of the various alleged pretexts. I'm pretty sure that neither of the families nor the wider communities involved are keen to see Stines back on the streets and ready for the next bout of... whatever it was that drove him to the murder he's charged with.

The audacity. The cruelty. Basta!

IMO, Moo, etc.

I wouldn't even want him out if I was his family member. I mean, what are they thinking? Is he medicated now so they think he's 'safe'???

 

[Soulmagent]

You might be surprised at the number of supporters he still has. Folks still believing the gossip, even though the family and the defense team said it's untrue.
I wonder what they're thinking now that it seems he's going for an insanity defense?
I don't believe he's insane, I think he was mad that he was getting caught in his own messy web.
Hopefully he'll pay the price.
IMO.

I just think the insanity defense is wild if your asking to be free . Like your admitting our unstable but fine to walk around with us?
Yeah not a good way to balance things. IMO.

 

[jepop]

I wouldn't even want him out if I was his family member. I mean, what are they thinking? Is he medicated now so they think he's 'safe'???

Yeah, agree...what the actual...they talked about releasing him to his family?...as if he is somehow a guaranteed non - threat unless the prosecution can prove otherwise? The proof is in the execution video. Moo

 

[Luna20]

There was new footage shown on Ctv this evening with VP that I haven’t seen released yet. It showed the initial point of surrender and it was surreal.

It began with 3 or 4 officers in a hallway stealthily pointing guns towards the interior courtroom ready for battle and then Stines walks in the from the exterior exit door behind them. It was a dramatic moment. It took a few minutes for it to register that Stines was the shooter, even after he put his gun down and arms up. I have never seen anything like that before. It was like a scene out of a crime mystery movie.

 

[Boxer]

Yeah wow,. I did a double take when defense argued for release on bond stating (paraphrase) ''Stines has been LE for his entire working life...has a great respect for the law...so won't miss court dates, not a flight risk...'.

I mean...respect for the law? Talk about a classic e.g. of counsel employing deliberate, wide-eyed disingenuity?!! Like you say, the major issue is surely the danger he poses to others and possibly himself. He executed a man in cold blood to the utter disbelief of respecting law abiding citizens, and that is very far from showing 'great respect' for the law.

Stines is unpredictable IMO and should not be out on bond. I think defense banging on about and emphasising flight risk is a disingenuous distraction from the real issue ie Stine's unpredictability, questionable mental stability and potential to be a danger to others and maybe himself (but more so others I think). Jmo

Except for a murder in the 1st degree he has been law abiding.

 

[Seattle1]

There was new footage shown on Ctv this evening with VP that I haven’t seen released yet. It showed the initial point of surrender and it was surreal.

It began with 3 or 4 officers in a hallway stealthily pointing guns towards the interior courtroom ready for battle and then Stines walks in the from the exterior exit door behind them. It was a dramatic moment. It took a few minutes for it to register that Stines was the shooter, even after he put his gun down and arms up. I have never seen anything like that before. It was like a scene out of a crime mystery movie.

On VP Investigates?

 

[Seattle1]

8/15/25

Closing Arguments--Stines portion starts at about 33:00 min of 44:29 mins.

Closing Arguments with Vinnie Politan | Court TV

When the court recesses for the day, Court TV continues to bring you live coverage of the most compelling legal stories. Vinnie Politan, a former

www.courttv.com

 

[Leilei]

I posted this in the wrong thread last night, but that video was crazy.

Holy cow, Court TV just showed Stine's surrender. He walks nonchalantly out of the courthouse, then walks into the entrance. Officers are there pointing their weapons the other way, because they thought the gunman was still there (maybe), he puts his gun on a table and raises his hands above his head. Calm as can be. The other officers seem to have a WTF moment then turn to him.
Craziness.
Not insanity, though.
IMO.

 

[Ontario Mom]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1957432835444289574

 

[scapa]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1957432835444289574

Hmm. Looking forward to hearing a WS summary of this one but I feel like the cold-blooded murder of the judge live on CCTV is more than "just the tip" of any iceberg.

 

[tlcya]

Hmm. Looking forward to hearing a WS summary of this one but I feel like the cold-blooded murder of the judge live on CCTV is more than "just the tip" of any iceberg.

I doubt it will be anything new or earth shattering, probably a rehash of what Vinnie has already been discussing at length for months. But I guess we won't know til it airs.