Moorers' Bond Hearing - #2

[Tricia]

Please everyone. No more discussion about size or weight. It's rude.

Thank you

 

[Dr. Know?]

When the one defense attorney said it was a blob about the truck on video, at the bond hearing, it kind of showed how low they will go clearly. But a stong circumstantial case can be won. I wish them all the luck. The defendents are not that hard to figure out and their directions they take. jmo

Phone calls, possible video of Heather going to PTL, timing of it all. The journal with Elvis family info/pictures found at the compound, and who knows what else, there's a good chance this will go forward. I watched the video of the bond hearing and feel the errors were admitted but the case isn't finished. jmo (don't forget how Heather called her friend and told her SM wanted to get back with her that night, leave Tammy, I feel there's more to this story even if it's not by HE's and her convo that night per phone records). If 90 phones calls were made by SM to HE, well...something was happening big time. SM has guaranteed himself a longer sentence not fessing up asap. so sad, too bad. jmo

eta, he needs a backbone. Not sure you can make one where one doesn't exist though.

 

[jillycat]

I don't see how the state can say it has DNA, then say it doesn't, and have a strong enough case. I definitely don't know how a Solicitor can say he's can't say he's confident, then claim he has a case sufficient to win a conviction. Seriously, even if if you think you don't have a prayer, don't say that out loud after your perps bonded out and their lawyers are just warming up.

 

[Dr. Know?]

There's always something. The defense will bring it, the state has to prove it otherwise. Let them go or drop it for murder charges among several other charges. The decision to drop the case will cause a bit of a problem though. imo

Rough time in the town I could forsee and hope not. It's actually surprising to follow and get emails from Spot Crime. It's always something within a mile radius or less of the TM & SM's home. I thought it was more country area, the crime stats proved to me that's wrong from following this past year. There's a lot of theft, burglaries, domestic violence, assaults for sure, suspicious vehicles etc.. jmo

 

[Vinny]

Although it's a bit worrisome so far, a lot of resources have been invested in this high profile case so we just have faith that LE has done their due diligence. If TM and SM covered their tracks that well, what can you really do? At the very least they are convicted on some of the lesser charges and their lives are never the same again.

 

[Janedoe66]

20 is so young. If there was an affair and they killed her, I can't believe they didn't take how young she is into consideration. She shouldn't have slept with a married man but young people do stupid things. The punishment definitely wouldn't have fit the crime if she was killed.

 

[Dr. Know?]

I'm waiting on edge to hear who bonds SM out. One way SM will be a sucker and if the other is chosen, he'll win a possibly lessor sentence if more innocent in regards to Heather's disappearance. jmo Either he talks or he doesn't. It will be telling. jmo (drama)

 

[NFYIAMY]

I did a Google search on this judge and saw a couple things that made me think he might be considered defense-friendly. One web page was ranting about this judge giving someone who had several shootouts a light sentence of less than a year and the judge dismissed other charges against the perp. The judge's performance at the Moorer bail hearing already made me think he's liberal towards defendants as well as has a massive ego that requires preening and lecturing when the camera is on. Something about him made me distrust him and I don't normally feel that way about judges.

I don't have a problem with any judge ensuring the state meets their burden under the constitution, and they should do exactly that. But I do have a problem if the judge has personal, political, or ideological leanings and/or if a judge's need for ego gratification and being in the spotlight creates an unfair and additional burden. This judge discussing evidence at a hearing, where he said not 10 min before wasn't the time or place to discuss evidence, shows he is a FlipFlopper. Also, the fact that he told the state to take their time, then interrupted them to tell them they 'have the floor,' then interrupted again to wax nostalgic about the past is another example of this behavior. I distrust FlipFlopper types whenever I encounter them.

If I were in the County Solicitor's office I'd be researching past cases this judge has litigated, talk to other Solicitors who have had to try cases in his courtroom, look at the history of which side prevailed at trial, and figure out what this judge's deal is and do this well before May, because there is something that needs to be researched there (IMO).

Madeleine - I think you put into words (quite well!) exactly what many people are thinking/feeling. Well done.

 

[NFYIAMY]

FWIW - News this morning shows that TM's visit to see SM was not her by herself....

 

[SStarr33]

One of the strong points was the ruling out of the black trucks in that style and year. FBI ruled out 81 other vehicle owners in the county, I believe or state? Well, defense would come back with a owner of the same exact truck with the same exact tool box that visits his daughter twice a year in the area...they don't have to prove it though, just insinuate it during trial. gah, I dislike law somedays. The prosecution has to prove otherwise, which we all know. Gosh, AZlawyer is a wealth of information here at ws. She's currently on the Jodi Arias case. Hope she comes here. I'll ask. Any lawyers from SC area here?

But it is no longer a strong point because the FBI looking at the trucks was a lie.

 

[PeterThomasFan]

Yet another thing that gets me is the indecent exposure charges. LE charge the M's with 2 counts each of indecent exposure after SM told them he had consensual sex with his wife in his vehicle. Huh?

You mean to tell me that if I told a LEO that I stole a candy bar from the store that I could get arrested for shoplifting? I never hear that before.

At the very end of the hearing on Friday (before they cut the cameras off), you could hear the judge asking why the bond was set so high for those misdemeanor offenses.

IMO, those charges will get dropped or won by the defense.

 

[PeterThomasFan]

I wish we could see a picture of her visiting today (I'm sure much makeup was evident as opposed to yesterday)...

There was video of TM leaving J. Reuben last night on the 11 o'clock news (News Channel 15). Can't find the video online though.

 

[bestill]

I've been reading some of the many facebook pages and one of them is saying that SM will not be out until Monday due to a "paperwork technicality".

I keep thinking about Friday's hearing and so wish the state could have spoken without all interruptions. Both of the Moorer's attorney's used their time to spin the evidence, now we know why they want the gag order lifted.

 

[PeterThomasFan]

I've been reading some of the many facebook pages and one of them is saying that SM will not be out until Monday due to a "paperwork technicality".

I keep thinking about Friday's hearing and so wish the state could have spoken without all interruptions. Both of the Moorer's attorney's used their time to spin the evidence, now we know why they want the gag order lifted.

The way the judge ruled (based on law), IMO, none of the attorneys needed to say anything.

"Everyone is entitled to a bond."

But then, a judge has no obligation to set one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Sorry for any typos!

 

[SStarr33]

I don't see how the state can say it has DNA, then say it doesn't, and have a strong enough case. I definitely don't know how a Solicitor can say he's can't say he's confident, then claim he has a case sufficient to win a conviction. Seriously, even if if you think you don't have a prayer, don't say that out loud after your perps bonded out and their lawyers are just warming up.

Scared me when he said he wasn't confident. I don't think I have ever heard a prosecutor say that in my life.

 

[rtjedarling]

When the one defense attorney said it was a blob about the truck on video, at the bond hearing, it kind of showed how low they will go clearly. But a stong circumstantial case can be won. I wish them all the luck. The defendents are not that hard to figure out and their directions they take. jmo

Phone calls, possible video of Heather going to PTL, timing of it all. The journal with Elvis family info/pictures found at the compound, and who knows what else, there's a good chance this will go forward. I watched the video of the bond hearing and feel the errors were admitted but the case isn't finished. jmo (don't forget how Heather called her friend and told her SM wanted to get back with her that night, leave Tammy, I feel there's more to this story even if it's not by HE's and her convo that night per phone records). If 90 phones calls were made by SM to HE, well...something was happening big time. SM has guaranteed himself a longer sentence not fessing up asap. so sad, too bad. jmo

eta, he needs a backbone. Not sure you can make one where one doesn't exist though.

Yes, I think there is a lot more nitty gritty to the case that there will be witnesses to. TM got very nasty to say the least when she found her Sidney was untrue. Probably not the first time her obsessed jealousy reared an ugly head. Stuff a more mature person, even if having an affair with a married man, would have stood up to TM on, whereas Heather did not realize what she was dealing with. It's kind of like one of those lifetime movies overboard with drama. I did not hear the full question in the video where the state fellow answered he was not confident, but the circumstantial evidence is pretty good, not having a body does hurt when there is no physical evidence linking them to Heather that night. I think he has reason to display more confidence in his case though, what we've heard publically so far is good, has convinced some of us beyond reasonable doubt. Even if some of TMs family were involved and she did not directly do away with Heather, she will always be seen locally as someone who got away with murder if she gets off.

 

[Dixie E]

As far as I see it as to how this case stands now, there are 2 things not in favor for the State. Number one is the solid evidence and number two is that one sided judge. I think he is not going to allow the State to say many things in front of the jury, but, he will allow the attorney`s to say anything they want to. He is using his profession to his advantage to say and do just as HE thinks and nobody can do anything about it. Is there anyway that a new judge can be put into this case instead of that OLD SCHOOL judge? Another thing that I read is where a judge can overturn a jury`s finding of being guilty. I hope this isn`t the case if they somehow are found to be guilty.
http://www.andrewdstine.com/blog/2011/07/can-a-judge-overturn-a-jury-verdict/

 

[Schmaley]

I have thought since the day they were arrested that they were guilty but they didn't find any DNA? That was a lab error? They dont have any concrete proof that the car was theirs? I am in serious doubt that these two are responsible.

Tammy being angry at Sid for cheating isn't that jaw dropping. And I would like to know what exactly they found at the Moorer home. So far pretty ambiguous information there.

I can't believe how much things have changed in my own head since Thursday in regards to this case. The scenario I keep coming back to is that SM did want to get back together with Heather and something accidental happened. Maybe she fell in or something. All I know is that I haven't pegged TM or SM for being too sharp and able to pull off a crime and leave literally nothing behind.

 

[bestill]

I'm confused, is there no dna or was the lab error no Heather's dna in SM's truck?

 

[SStarr33]

The judge is from Moncks Corner. IIRC, that's where SM was raised:

http://m.sccourts.org/circuitCourt/displaycirjudge.cfm?judgeid=2060

Suggest you google this and read what comes up:

Judge R. Markley Dennis -moorer

Also, he was a defense attorney. Doesn't look good for the prosecution