GUILTY NC - Melissa Huggins-Jones, 30, murdered in her Raleigh home, 14 May 2013

[Boodles]

During his interrogation, Travion said he was outside in the breezeway and never went inside the apt. Maybe this forensic evidence will show that he in fact did also enter via the balcony (i.e., is it his shoe print on the dryer vent?), and other proof that he was inside. That would show that his his whole spiel to LE was a lie. When I was listening to him (I didn't hear the entire thing), I found myself wanting to believe him. He seemed kind of likable. But if he's a liar, all bets are off. The prosecution said he delivered the first blow, if they have evidence of that, then boom, he needs to go away forever.

I agree this looks dull that the State is trying this as a DP case. I can see them telling the defendant that, trying to get him to take a plea for 1st degree murder, but to actually try it as such seems crazy. In a way, it kind of strengthens the defense assertion that Travion wasn't involved in the actual murder that Travion took it to trial, rather than following Ronald Anthony's lead/path. It's like he's saying "no, I'm not taking a plea when I didn't do it." Then again, Travion may have other influences, e.g., his father, persuading him to fight the charges. IMO, it's probably the latter.

Madeleine74, I don't think they have mentioned where the daughter resides now, or with whom.

 

[colette]

Travion said he never went in but that he had blood on his hands as both men used bottled water to clean their hands so he was lying.

The daughter went with her father right after the murder, I think she is probably still with him.

 

[geevee]

During his interrogation, Travion said he was outside in the breezeway and never went inside the apt. Maybe this forensic evidence will show that he in fact did also enter via the balcony (i.e., is it his shoe print on the dryer vent?), and other proof that he was inside. That would show that his his whole spiel to LE was a lie. When I was listening to him (I didn't hear the entire thing), I found myself wanting to believe him. He seemed kind of likable. But if he's a liar, all bets are off. The prosecution said he delivered the first blow, if they have evidence of that, then boom, he needs to go away forever.

I agree this looks dull that the State is trying this as a DP case. I can see them telling the defendant that, trying to get him to take a plea for 1st degree murder, but to actually try it as such seems crazy. In a way, it kind of strengthens the defense assertion that Travion wasn't involved in the actual murder that Travion took it to trial, rather than following Ronald Anthony's lead/path. It's like he's saying "no, I'm not taking a plea when I didn't do it." Then again, Travion may have other influences, e.g., his father, persuading him to fight the charges. IMO, it's probably the latter.

Madeleine74, I don't think they have mentioned where the daughter resides now, or with whom.

I wanted to believe him while watching the interrogation too, until the police officer mentioned shoe prints and asked him about the shoes he was wearing, he said Anthony was wearing them that night - I'd love to hear what shoe size Anthony has but even then, guys share shoes? And he only remembers that after the officer mentions shoe prints in the apartment? I don't think so, it really put a big dent into his credibility for me.

I haven't been able to watch all of this because of the VanCallis trial so I've missed some evidence possibly tying him to the inside of the apartment, has there been any yet?

 

[Boodles]

I wanted to believe him while watching the interrogation too, until the police officer mentioned shoe prints and asked him about the shoes he was wearing, he said Anthony was wearing them that night - I'd love to hear what shoe size Anthony has but even then, guys share shoes? And he only remembers that after the officer mentions shoe prints in the apartment? I don't think so, it really put a big dent into his credibility for me.

I haven't been able to watch all of this because of the VanCallis trial so I've missed some evidence possibly tying him to the inside of the apartment, has there been any yet?

He mentioned that he was wearing "Starters" (I guess that's a shoe brand or model) that night. I think he said that since being kicked out of his home, he didn't have any clothes, so he was wearing RA's. He said everything he was wearing (during the interrogation) was RA's. I've heard some witnesses talking about "Starters" but don't recall the details.

As far as connecting him to the inside, they're still connecting the dots. But it seems they're getting very close, like hopefully after lunch! The shoe scale photo was admitted for substantive purposes, I believe, so I expect the shoe connection will be soon.

There are dents in the dryer vents on both sides of the balcony. One side has shoe impressions and the other doesn't, but do the dents in both imply that two people were climbing up to the floor above? I figure they have dna and/or some other evidence showing that he went inside. And when they say he delivered the first blow, they must have something significant to substantiate that.

collette, I don't think Travion said he had blood on his own hands. Sarah Redden testified that both of them were washing their hands with h2o from water bottles, but I don't think Travion admitted having blood on his hands. Did I miss it?

OT, but I don't see how Sarah Redden's first degree murder charge can hold up. Unless they have something showing that she, too, was inside, I can't imagine how they would make the case. How was she to know they would murder someone? Nothing I've heard so far leads me to think they broke into a home with the intention to kill.

Also, it sure would be interesting if they (either prosecution or defense) called Ronald Anthony to testify.

 

[seattlechiquita]

Hola y'all --- trying to follow. Work, work, work. PFFFT

 

[Madeleine74]

Until they get a forensic analyst on the stand none of the dots will be connected. The CCBI lady is just to introduce what they collected and how. The results will come in through various analysts who testify to what various results (fingerprints, shoe prints, DNA, etc) were found at the crime scene.

I don't think there's any question that this guy will be found guilty; to me the only question will be if the jury votes for the DP and IMO they will not and he'll get LWOP.

And, when I look at him just sitting there and watching him listen to the testimony of all the blood on and around Melissa, he's so disconnected from it. Where's the feeling of remorse and regret for her life? He appears to have none and that is troubling.

 

[Madeleine74]

State witness "R.M." will not be shown or recorded by media when s/he is on the stand at some point.. (booooo).

 

[borndem]

During his interrogation, Travion said he was outside in the breezeway and never went inside the apt. Maybe this forensic evidence will show that he in fact did also enter via the balcony (i.e., is it his shoe print on the dryer vent?), and other proof that he was inside. That would show that his his whole spiel to LE was a lie. When I was listening to him (I didn't hear the entire thing), I found myself wanting to believe him. He seemed kind of likable. But if he's a liar, all bets are off. The prosecution said he delivered the first blow, if they have evidence of that, then boom, he needs to go away forever.

I agree this looks dull that the State is trying this as a DP case. I can see them telling the defendant that, trying to get him to take a plea for 1st degree murder, but to actually try it as such seems crazy. In a way, it kind of strengthens the defense assertion that Travion wasn't involved in the actual murder that Travion took it to trial, rather than following Ronald Anthony's lead/path. It's like he's saying "no, I'm not taking a plea when I didn't do it." Then again, Travion may have other influences, e.g., his father, persuading him to fight the charges. IMO, it's probably the latter.

Madeleine74, I don't think they have mentioned where the daughter resides now, or with whom.

bbm

I found him likable, too, but I'm also with you on the lying part. I'd like to know more about Smith's father.

Melissa apparently suffered blunt force trauma (from what I recall, I could be wrong, of course) and she was stabbed. It looks like cast-off from the stabbing or beating was severe enuff to send droplets to the ceiling -- that's really cruel, severe, and maddening.

Did they both go at her at the same time, each using his own weapon?

Skeptics of Smith's guilt of 1st Degree Murder charge must remember Acting in Concert, Acting in Concert, Acting in Concert. I do wonder if Ridgeway will include a 2nd Degree Murder verdict option on the list of charges. They often do to give the jury somewhere to run besides Not Guilty if they can't agree on 1st. It's obviously not 2nd Degree, but we see it done by our judges to guard against an appeal based on its not being an option.

It looks like the jury will get to the Guilt Phase pretty soon...

ETA: I don't know that I have seen a DP murder case where 2nd Degree was added. IMO, that would weaken the strength of the DP part -- but we'll see.

 

[lisette]

I don't see how Sarah Redden's first degree murder charge can hold up. Unless they have something showing that she, too, was inside, I can't imagine how they would make the case. How was she to know they would murder someone? Nothing I've heard so far leads me to think they broke into a home with the intention to kill.

I don't have the exact law, but in NC, if someone is killed in the commission of a robbery/burglary, anybody that was "in on the crime" is guilty of the murder, whether they knew it or not....like the "getaway driver" or whatever. So Sarah knowing that they were going in to rob somebody makes her just as culpable. Many times, though, the person is given a deal for testifying against the actual perps of the killing. Sarah testified, however, that she had not been offered a deal, but we shall see...

 

[borndem]

He mentioned that he was wearing "Starters" (I guess that's a shoe brand or model) that night. I think he said that since being kicked out of his home, he didn't have any clothes, so he was wearing RA's. He said everything he was wearing (during the interrogation) was RA's. I've heard some witnesses talking about "Starters" but don't recall the details.

As far as connecting him to the inside, they're still connecting the dots. But it seems they're getting very close, like hopefully after lunch! The shoe scale photo was admitted for substantive purposes, I believe, so I expect the shoe connection will be soon.

There are dents in the dryer vents on both sides of the balcony. One side has shoe impressions and the other doesn't, but do the dents in both imply that two people were climbing up to the floor above? I figure they have dna and/or some other evidence showing that he went inside. And when they say he delivered the first blow, they must have something significant to substantiate that.

collette, I don't think Travion said he had blood on his own hands. Sarah Redden testified that both of them were washing their hands with h2o from water bottles, but I don't think Travion admitted having blood on his hands. Did I miss it?

OT, but I don't see how Sarah Redden's first degree murder charge can hold up. Unless they have something showing that she, too, was inside, I can't imagine how they would make the case. How was she to know they would murder someone? Nothing I've heard so far leads me to think they broke into a home with the intention to kill.

Also, it sure would be interesting if they (either prosecution or defense) called Ronald Anthony to testify.

Upon Googling "Starters shoes," Google returned info on them -- many different types of athletic shoes -- they are available through Target & Walmart and some others with which I am not familiar.

https://www.google.com/#q=starters+shoes

 

[Boodles]

State witness "R.M." will not be shown or recorded by media when s/he is on the stand at some point.. (booooo).

I agree with your booooo! Them hiding the witness just makes me even more curious!

Its a 'she'...who could it be? Driving me :crazy:

 

[Madeleine74]

<small world>

I was listening to opening statements on YouTube. Turns out I know the guy who helped the RPD identify the 2 stolen laptops.

</small world>

 

[borndem]

>>>> respectfully snipped by borndem <<<<

OT, but I don't see how Sarah Redden's first degree murder charge can hold up. Unless they have something showing that she, too, was inside, I can't imagine how they would make the case. How was she to know they would murder someone? Nothing I've heard so far leads me to think they broke into a home with the intention to kill.

Also, it sure would be interesting if they (either prosecution or defense) called Ronald Anthony to testify.

I remember the trial here of Ryan Hare for the murder of Matthew Silliman.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...urder-of-Matthew-Silliman-18-Wake-County-2008

Two of the teens who acted with Hare in the murder were given a promise of reduced sentences for their testimony against Hare, but they were not sentenced until after the trial was over [each got hefty sentences: one got 40+ yrs (Aadil Khan) and the other, 37+ yrs (Allegra Dahlquist)]. There was a 4th participant, but he wasn't there the night of the murder. He was there the day of the murder but he left well before the other 3 were actively working to cause Silliman's death.

He (Drew Shaw, also charged with 1st Degree) also testified, but without a plea deal. After the Hare trial, he took an Alford plea and was given a sentence of 2nd Deg. Murder - Accessory after the Fact, and was given 3 yrs/9mos -- 5 yrs/3 mos. Judge Ridgeway also presided in this case, btw.

I suspect that something similar may happen with Redden unless more facts surface about her participation. IMO.

 

[Madeleine74]

The Felony Murder statute "acting in concert" is what nails all 3 of them. If you are committing a crime and during the commission of that crime you kill or cause the death of someone, you can be charged with first degree murder.

This applies to everyone, including someone who merely drove the gettaway car or was "just the lookout" as well as someone who "was just there at the time participating but didn't personally kill the victim."

No doubt the judge will also include the lesser charge of "2nd degree murder" for the jury's consideration, even though the state didn't ask for it. It's to prevent a possible appellate issue if/when the perp is convicted.

 

[Madeleine74]

I just texted with the guy who worked with the RPD bowtie Detective (Zeke) to identify the 2 laptops that were stolen. I was teasing him I want his autograph. He told me he testified on day 2, which I haven't seen yet, but will eventually get there as I watch the uploaded videos.

 

[borndem]

Hola y'all --- trying to follow. Work, work, work. PFFFT

Hi, my Little Coffee Bean!! So good to hear from you! :happydance:

You can totally catch up on youtube's archives:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbBlaDsCNesegXhWm-biKFL6ofpZv_m4Q

 

[borndem]

The Felony Murder statute "acting in concert" is what nails all 3 of them. If you are committing a crime and during the commission of that crime you kill or cause the death of someone, you can be charged with first degree murder.

This applies to everyone, including someone who merely drove the gettaway car or was "just the lookout" as well as someone who "was just there at the time participating but didn't personally kill the victim."

No doubt the judge will also include the lesser charge of "2nd degree murder" for the jury's consideration, even though the state didn't ask for it. It's to prevent a possible appellate issue if/when the perp is convicted.

Yep, Redden was also Acting in Concert, but I'm not so sure they will prosecute her with a 1st Murder charge. They certainly could -- according to her testimony, she was the lookout during the car thefts, and she was the lookout during the thefts and murder at the Alllister apartments. So she was there, for better or for worse. We'll have to wait and see. I think they will offer her a plea. And I think she'd be wise to take it & run to the nearest cell.

 

[borndem]

:cup::cupcake::cup::cupcake::cup:

:gavel:


HiYa Peeps - Let's see what the day brings!

http://www.wral.com/news/video/15309080/

 

[Madeleine74]

I agree Borndem. I think Redden will get 15 - 25 years for her role, not LWOP.

 

[Boodles]

So the anonymous witness is an undercover CCBI agent. I didn't know there were undercover CCBI agents.

Is she the one who matches some forensic evidence to Travion?

The attorneys spoke about potential closing arguments tomorrow (though I doubt they'll get there). Somebody needs to connect some dots soon to place Travion inside.

I was also thinking about how convenient it was that Sarah Redden didn't see either man enter or exit any apartment. She just happened to miss those parts of the night's activities.