Here's my two cents -- all just an opinion based on the two trials. I think AMANDA was MUCH more at the center of this. Her life was filled with her doing what she wanted when she wanted and up until she met Grant Hayes she had come out where she wanted. NOW in steps GRANT HAYES - someone she THOUGHT was going to be A SOMEBODY if she didn't already think he was a SOMEBODY in the music industry. She moves to NY and signs up to learn the music industry, sends him a ticket, ... Little Grant is sent up to become a child actor. BUT WAIT - Laura enters the picture. She is NOT what Grant claims. She doesn't just release her kid. As time drones on Amanda realizes in order to do what she wants where Grant or those kids go, Laura needs to be controlled. Every man in Amanda's past was self sufficient. She knew how to manipulate THOSE kinds of men apparently. This was entirely different. A perpetual child like GRANT HAYES and his ex-girlfriend who even after they married refused to fade away. The Psychologist and his own mother claimed Grant was 'docile'. I found that very interesting. Not lazy, docile. I take this to mean ZERO DRIVE. He drifts along on currents. Shae noted he never finishes anything. AMANDA was quite the current wasn't she? She was a self centered self starter and I believe she drove this custody matter - and her finances - off the rails because of her own arrogance and determination to have her way. She thought she could game the system. She had been there before but that was a different time and different state. She has a mighty high opinion of herself. And she thought she had the resources. Grant kept claiming he was going to make some money. She overestimated her ability to control the situation. I think she grew to resent all of the communication between Laura and Grant.
Did anyone pay attention to that cellmate's testimony including some new gal at the jail who played music with Grant and told Amanda in jail that Grant and Laura had met in Florida AFTER Amanda and he was married. WOW would that put a spin on that document!!! Whether true or not I bet Amanda was threatened by Laura. As Amanda was losing control, Laura was gaining it.
I think that report set AMANDA off. I think she could see a personal hell ahead where she was in a car chauffeuring these kids for years and years, trapped in Kinston NC, and she needed it all to stop! And I believe she was toe for toe with GRANT where Laura's death went. She hated Laura.
Also believe she thought GRANT would take responsibility for the murder and exonerate her if for no other reason the children. But he didn't, did he? He only cared about himself. So Plan B was to throw Grant under the bus which is exactly what she has done and hope the jury buys she was deaf.dumb.blind until TEXAS and then Grant threatened her.
ABSOLUTE RUBBISH from where I sit.
Contrary to type, contrary to her past, contrary to the evidence.
Amanda Hayes in my opinion is not crazy, she is something far worse.
I am wondering why the Jury is having so much trouble sorting fact from fiction.
