MS - Alexandria "Ally" Kostial, 21, Ole Miss student, found dead, Harmontown, 20 July 2019 *ARREST*

[borndem]

Are plea deals allowed in murder cases in Mississippi?

Yes, Miss. does allow plea deals.
In addition, Mississippi also allows an Alford Plea as well. It's a plea where the one charged does not admit guilt, but realizes that there is enough evidence to convict him. (Odd, huh? It can result in a lesser charge since there is no trial.)

Note: this is not the only plea deal Miss. allows, it is just a special plea deal offered by some states, Miss. is on the included list.

List of U.S. states by Alford plea usage documents usage of the form of guilty plea known as the Alford plea in each of the U.S. states in the United States. An Alford plea (also referred to as Alford guilty plea[1][2][3] and Alford doctrine[4][5][6]) in the law of the United States is a guilty plea in criminal court,[7][8][9] where the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence.[10][11][12] Under the Alford plea the defendant admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.[4][13][14][15][16]
[...]
List of U.S. states by Alford plea usage
[...]
Mississippi -- Yes -- In an appeal from the Mississippi Court of Appeals, the appeals decision was reversed, and the acceptance of the defendant's Alford plea by the Lauderdale County Circuit Court was upheld. Supreme Court of Mississippi (2008)[50]

List of U.S. states by Alford plea usage - Wikipedia

 

[Lillymac]

Does anyone have a link or a news story that says he definitely was not wearing bloody clothes when he was arrested? Only that they were found in his truck! Thanks.

 

[Seattle1]

The Clarion Ledger reached Keith Kostial by phone on Thursday.

"Whatever the sheriff's office and coroner's department has verified, I can verify. Everything else is basically unsubstantiated at this time and it’s still under further investigation," he said, and referred further questions to a public relations professional working with the family.

The public relations person said the family is focused on privately grieving. A vigil was held Thursday night in St. Louis, Ally Kosital's hometown. A funeral service was held in Kirkwood, Missouri on Saturday morning.

What Ally Kostial's father has said since his daughter's murder near Ole Miss

 

[JBMDC]

Does anyone have a link or a news story that says he definitely was not wearing bloody clothes when he was arrested? Only that they were found in his truck! Thanks.

Memphis TV reported the bloody clothes this way:
“Law enforcement sources told FOX13 Theesfeld’s clothes appeared to have blood on them, and a weapon was found inside the truck.”
Then everyone else cited the Memphis report. This came from Memphis PD, no confirmation or clarification from Lafayette County.
This is the original report, I think:
Ole Miss student accused of woman's murder tracked down at South Memphis gas station

 

[firebird]

The Clarion Ledger reached Keith Kostial by phone on Thursday.

"Whatever the sheriff's office and coroner's department has verified, I can verify. Everything else is basically unsubstantiated at this time and it’s still under further investigation," he said, and referred further questions to a public relations professional working with the family.

The public relations person said the family is focused on privately grieving. A vigil was held Thursday night in St. Louis, Ally Kosital's hometown. A funeral service was held in Kirkwood, Missouri on Saturday morning.

What Ally Kostial's father has said since his daughter's murder near Ole Miss

Wait...the VICTIM's family is working with a PR firm? That really surprises me.

 

[JBMDC]

Wait...the VICTIM's family is working with a PR firm? That really surprises me.

I’m sure they need a gatekeeper to handle all the media requests.

 

[Kittybunny]

I'm not so sure about this.

Just because a friend of hers threw the word around doesn't make it so. She may have wanted something different from their "relationship" than he did... and refusing to see the forest for the trees, doesn't make it abusive.

You are correct, of course. I was thinking more emotionally abusive - not physically, but either way you are correct that it may not have risen to the level of abuse. But by all accounts, he did not sound like a gentleman.

 

[distracted]

My first thought was that they aren't up to addressing the media themselves, especially with unsubstantiated rumors swirling around. I actually think it's a good idea since the accused has hired high-profile attorneys who may try to use the press to their advantage.

 

[distracted]

So if the case is sealed, wouldn’t it be the case that the second charge may not have been disclosed to the public - especially if they’ve only been able to evidence a second charge following the autopsy, after filing the first? Hope this makes sense and doesn’t sound argumentative - just trying to understand!

Yes. As a matter of fact, charges can be added at any time as long as the charge falls within the statute of limitations. The prosecution isn't obligated to file all of the charges at once.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

If the autopsy and other evidential items, etc., have been put under seal, MSM should not be able to see any of it. Very common, especially at this state of a case. Secondary, tertiary, etc., charges do not have to be filed right away.
We'll see...

I understand that but people are basing her potential pregnancy on the idea that someone said, "maybe she was pregnant". There's literally no evidence or information supporting that fact outside of a male murdering a female. JMO and all that jazz.

 

[borndem]

Wait...the VICTIM's family is working with a PR firm? That really surprises me.

Yes, it's not unusual when a case goes all over the country -- the family needs someone to answer the hundreds of calls, emails, cards, and also to check what's in MSM, etc. This allows the family to stay in contact with their families, other close people and LE, etc.
That's often what a PR company does with something like this -- I don't know what they're doing specifically for the Kostials.

 

[borndem]

I understand that but people are basing her potential pregnancy on the idea that someone said, "maybe she was pregnant". There's literally no evidence or information supporting that fact outside of a male murdering a female. JMO and all that jazz.

You're absolutely right -- no evidence at all.

And murder is all he's been charged with so far, and that may remain the only charge at trial.

 

[Seattle1]

Wait...the VICTIM's family is working with a PR firm? That really surprises me.

At first I thought maybe it was a poor choice of words, and they meant a victims advocate but now that I've learned more about the defendant's representation, I believe it's prudent for them to have a PR firm on their side.

I hope the Kostial family continue to promote how their daughter lived, and what the world lost versus how she was massacred by a man she believed her friend. MOO

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

You're absolutely right -- no evidence at all.

And murder is all he's been charged with so far, and that may remain the only charge at trial.

Either way we can all agree he's an <modsnip >

ETA: Can't wait to hear what kind of hot garbage his pricey rich people defense attorney spouts off.

 

[Inthedetails]

At first I thought maybe it was a poor choice of words, and they meant a victims advocate but now that I've learned more about the defendant's representation, I believe it's prudent for them to have a PR firm on their side.

I hope the Kostial family continue to promote how their daughter lived, and what the world lost versus how she was massacred by a man she believed her friend. MOO

Same here. My first reaction was, "What?" but after thinking about it, it does make sense. The defense is going to come out with guns blazing, imo, and AK's family needs a buffer that is equally strong.

I hope this doesn't turn into a circus.

jmo

 

[sun16]

All of us, at one time or another, likely while in school, have known or known of a guy like BT. And we say to ourselves, wow, that’s not right how he behaves. Or wow, one of these days that will all catch up with him. This is now ‘one of these days’.

 

[oviedo]

Same here. My first reaction was, "What?" but after thinking about it, it does make sense. The defense is going to come out with guns blazing, imo, and AK's family needs a buffer that is equally strong.

I hope this doesn't turn into a circus.

jmo

I agree - I sense a victim blaming defense in the works especially if her blood is on the clothing found (Link upthread) and the gun they found is the murder weapon. IMO.

Dorm neighbor of Brandon Theesfeld, suspect in Ally Kostial case, says he is 'arrogant,' 'egotistical'

 

[firebird]

I don't follow that many cases closely, so maybe it's not that unusual for a victim's family to hire a pr firm, but I honestly can't think of any other cases where that's happened except for Trayvon Martin -- and that's a whole different ball of wax imo. Do any of you who have followed a lot of cases know of any others?

 

[Kittybunny]

IMO, I think all parties are nervous and extra cautious because of the prestige and money perhaps of BTs family, the hiring of Farese and team, and rumors circulating about Ally that may or may not be true. Prosecutors probably know they better have a case locked up tight, and don't want to give the defense any points. No need to fight sealing the records. Perhaps the judge feels the same. Also, I wouldn't be surprised perhaps if Ally comes from an equally prestigious or good family that has been advised by lawyers, etc., about how Farese and co. fight and what they may be prepared to do. And I admit, it makes ME nervous too. Just hope the forensic evidence is strong enough to overcome any affluenza, money, pressure, or prestige intimidation and perceptions.

 

[Quill]

I don't follow that many cases closely, so maybe it's not that unusual for a victim's family to hire a pr firm, but I honestly can't think of any other cases where that's happened except for Trayvon Martin -- and that's a whole different ball of wax imo. Do any of you who have followed a lot of cases know of any others?

I can't say that I can think of many others, but maybe I am not the best person to answer this question. My first thought on the matter is that they are anticipating elements to be major headline news and are expecting it to stay in the media as more information comes out closer to trial. If so, they will need help managing the feeding frenzy that is the news media. That's all I've got.