GUILTY SC - Christine Parcell 41, fatally stabbed by concert pianist, Greenville, 13 Oct 2021 *Arrest*

[arielilane]

2 minutes ago

Defense: "Did you take Christina Parcell's life on Oct. 13, 2021?"

Hughes: "Yes because I believed it was absolutely necessary to save [Mello's daughter] and I was right."

The state objects. The judge tells the jury to disregard Hughes' last statement.

Guilty verdict reached in The Killing on Canebrake trial

FOX Carolina News will be in the courtroom for the duration of the trial and will provide live updates here.

www.wistv.com

a minute ago

The defense asks about why Hughes acted on October 13. Hughes says he was having this "incredible wrestling match" with himself. He said he was experiencing a tremendous amount of guilt for not acting sooner.

"Essentially it was now or never."


a few seconds ago

Hughes is starting to sound emotional as he talks about making the final decision.



"I was angry. The only thing I was feeling that day was pity."

 

[arielilane]

Hughes has returned and taken the stand again. The jury is being brought in. Judge Fant instructs the jury regarding the information they heard that must be disregarded. Moorman has begun questioning Hughes again.


Moorman asks Hughes about the two offers Mello made him to kill Parcell and asked him about his statement that he would never do that for money and only if it was necessary to rescue the child from Parcell.


Hughes says at the end of September, he believed that it became necessary.


Ultimately, did you take Christina Parcell's life on October 13? Hughes: "Yes. Because I believe it is absolutely necessary to save (the child) and I was right.”


Hughes states that after June, he believed the child was in grave danger every day of her life and everything he was doing to save her was not working.


Hughes: "So I was having this incredible wrestling match within myself for these months, feeling that I needed to do something to save her, and yet feeling this incredible reluctance to do the one thing that I knew would save her, because of how terrible I knew it would be to do it, even though I believed it would be right. So by the time October 13 rolled around, I had been grappling with this for a long time, and I was experiencing a tremendous amount of guilt that I waited as long as I did because I should have acted sooner, and I didn't do that.”


"I had gotten this offer to go on this cruise ship, and I would have been leaving the country for a long time. Essentially, it was now or never, I had an opportunity to save her from a danger that I knew she was in and that I knew was not going to cease.”



"I was going to be going to the South Pacific to play concerts for rich people on cruise ships. I mean, but how could I... how could I go and enjoy that and know that I was leaving a kid to that fate, that kid who thought that I was her friend would never have been able to look at myself in the mirror again if I had done that."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892293456124342425

 

[arielilane]

@IndyJenn_


Regarding the murder Hughes said... "Because I believed that if I was discovered doing this, it would connect me to John Mello. And I believe, and I still believe, that he's a great father, and he is (the child's) best shot at having a happy and safe childhood."


2:23 PM · Feb 19, 2025

 

[Cedars]

Can someone explain "The state cannot ask for a mistrial as jeopardy has already been attached."
I am not knowledgeable about the law at work here. So much seems to be going sideways

My understanding is the prosecution only gets 1 chance to try someone. If they cancel mid-trial, they can't get a do- over.

However, I've never heard of the prosecution declaring a mistrial - it is the judge who declares a mistrial (someone's bad evidence is too prejudicial to the defendent's right to a fair trial, or the jury can't reach a verdict.)

I believe that when the judge declares a mistrial, a new trial can be ordered by the prosecution.

So, once again, we seem to have misinformation being spread. I'm too lazy to look up the source.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

a few seconds ago

Hughes says he left the house in Marietta around 8 or 8:15 AM.



a few seconds ago

Hughes says he got information from Mello about when people would be at the house that day.


a few seconds ago

Hughes says he originally planned to kill Parcell on Oct. 12, but decided not to because he woke up feeling very reluctant. He says his gut told him it wasn't the right day, so he waited one more day.

2 minutes ago

Hughes says he researched a route he could take from the home in Marietta to Canebrake Drive that would avoid traffic cameras.

2 minutes ago

Hughes says he bought gloves but doesn't remember where he bought them.

Hughes says he bought paint thinner so clean any fingerprints.

Guilty verdict reached in The Killing on Canebrake trial

FOX Carolina News will be in the courtroom for the duration of the trial and will provide live updates here.

www.wistv.com

 

[StarryStarryNight]

2 minutes ago

Defense: "Did you take Christina Parcell's life on Oct. 13, 2021?"

Hughes: "Yes because I believed it was absolutely necessary to save [Mello's daughter] and I was right."

The state objects. The judge tells the jury to disregard Hughes' last statement.

Guilty verdict reached in The Killing on Canebrake trial

FOX Carolina News will be in the courtroom for the duration of the trial and will provide live updates here.

www.wistv.com

a minute ago

The defense asks about why Hughes acted on October 13. Hughes says he was having this "incredible wrestling match" with himself. He said he was experiencing a tremendous amount of guilt for not acting sooner.

"Essentially it was now or never."


a few seconds ago

Hughes is starting to sound emotional as he talks about making the final decision.



"I was angry. The only thing I was feeling that day was pity."

Well, isn't he so clever. Promises not to mention the unmentionable anymore then attempts a backdoor way to do it. That took about 30 seconds.
ZH only purpose for testifying was to circumvent the judge's ruling. To say things that are not in evidence in this trial. If
If not that, then he could have simply pled guilty.

 

[Kudzuu]

My understanding is the prosecution only gets 1 chance to try someone. If they cancel mid-trial, they can't get a do- over.

However, I've never heard of the prosecution declaring a mistrial - it is the judge who declares a mistrial (someone's bad evidence is too prejudicial to the defendent's right to a fair trial, or the jury can't reach a verdict.)

I believe that when the judge declares a mistrial, a new trial can be ordered by the prosecution.

So, once again, we seem to have misinformation being spread. I'm too lazy to look up the source.

JMO

That's ok. You already know more than I do. Someone else will hopefully chime in and clear it up. Thanks!

 

[arielilane]

2 minutes ago

He left the house with his bike in the bed of the truck. He says he put the gloves, gun and knife in the backpack. He also brought a box that was made to look like a wrapped present and a bunch of roses he bought the day before.

Guilty verdict reached in The Killing on Canebrake trial

FOX Carolina News will be in the courtroom for the duration of the trial and will provide live updates here.

www.wistv.com

2 minutes ago

'I prayed like I never had before'
Hughes tells the jury he "prayed like I never had before" about his decision. He says he felt like he needed permission to do this. Hughes says he was terrified he might be doing the wrong thing.

"I knew I had a duty to do this to save a child."


a minute ago

Hughes he was extremely stressed as he was driving to Parcell's home. He says his hands were shaking, he was in a cold sweat and was fighting the urge to vomit. "If I don't do this, if I turn back, then I'm consigning [Mello's daughter] to her fate."

 

[Cedars]

Regarding the murder Hughes said... "Because I believed that if I was discovered doing this, it would connect me to John Mello. And I believe, and I still believe, that he's a great father, and he is (the child's) best shot at having a happy and safe childhood."


2:23 PM · Feb 19, 2025

But now he's kind of dragging Mello under the bus with him - or am I completely misperceiving this and people are saluting this great man, and will riot if he is found guilty...?

 

[arielilane]

@dnolan2000


"Your honor, I put my hand on the bible and swore to tell the truth."Hughes appears unwilling to comply with the judge's order as he returns to the witness stand after court recessed for lunch.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892289479752176015

 

[arielilane]

@IndyJenn_


Hughes tells the court he brought a knife and a box that was made to look like a gift wrapped box and bunch of roses that I had bought the day before.

Hughes: "I had prayed a great deal about this. I prayed like I'd never prayed before. Because even knowing that logically, this was the right thing to do, it didn't, it didn't satisfy that emotional human aspect where I felt that I needed permission to do this, and I was so terrified that somehow I might be doing the wrong thing, like I knew that it was right logically..."


2:31 PM · Feb 19, 2025

 

[Kudzuu]

But now he's kind of dragging Mello under the bus with him - or am I completely misperceiving this and people are saluting this great man, and will riot if he is found guilty...?

No. IMO he's lying.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

That's ok. You already know more than I do. Someone else will hopefully chime in and clear it up. Thanks!

I think Cedars is right.
Jeopardy begins as soon as a jury is sworn.
That text we're talking about was wrong I think in that it's the judge that declares a mistral not the prosecution. The prosecution can ask for a mistral and the judge can grant it and it would not stop the defendant from being tried again.
At least that's how I understand it.

 

[Cedars]

No. IMO he's lying.

And the $10k had nothing to do with it, no, he is far too noble for such petty concerns.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

6 minutes ago

"I just tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other on my bike ... It was so difficult to keep going."

"I just reminded myself if I don't do this no one is going to come to save [Mello's daughter]."


6 minutes ago

The defense asks about the gun. Hughes says initially he was going to use it, but decided not to because of how loud it would be.


a minute ago

Hughes says when he got to the house he took the giftwrapped box out of his backpack and put the gun inside it. He rang the doorbell with the flowers in his hands. When he rang the doorbell, a woman opened the door. Hughes says he thought it was Parcell, but he wanted to make sure. He told the woman he had a delivery for Lutina Parcell and Parcell told Hughes she wasn't home.

He handed her the roses and took the revolver out of the box. He told her to be quiet and go into the house. She did and he followed her.

Guilty verdict reached in The Killing on Canebrake trial

FOX Carolina News will be in the courtroom for the duration of the trial and will provide live updates here.

www.wistv.com

a minute ago

Hughes says he tried to knock Parcell unconscious, but says his body was fighting him. He says he was taught never to hurt a woman, so when he went to strike her with the gun he pulled back.


a few seconds ago

Hughes says he tried again, but couldn't bring himself to strike her. At this point Parcell tried to get away and fight back. Hughes says at this point the flowers were on the floor and had scattered.

 

[arielilane]

@cathyrusson


What happened off camera after lunch was the state gave a jury instruction for the judge to read about disregarding what the defendant said. #ZacharyHughes told the judge he would try and follow his order, but that he also swore on the Bible to tell the truth.

2:43 PM · Feb 19, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@IndyJenn_


Hughes tried to hit Parcell over the head with the pistol he was carrying, but says he was nervous and reluctant. He says initial attempts to stab her were ineffective. When she started to fight back, he says " I just kept striking her and striking her until finally we fell on the floor. And at this point, I had just tried to take my mind out of it and just try to get through this and finish it."


After the murder Hughes says, "I wanted to make sure that I didn't leave anything behind that would connect me to it, because then I believe John (Mello) would be connected to it, and it would only further put (the child) in danger, because I didn't know if Christina Parcell was the only person involved in what was happening to (the child), you know what was happening to (the child). And she wasn't."


"As soon as I left the house, I felt the most enormous wave of relief wash over me, because I knew from that moment on, (the child) would be safe. (The child) would be safe from the sexual abuse, and there is proof to that... that the state is hiding from you."


Objection... The jury has been removed from the courtroom again.

Wilkins: "I also want to look at maybe holding it in contempt on this jury as well. This is a unique situation. I've never seen such a person and trying to disrupt the criminal justice process itself."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892301180069417221

 

[Kudzuu]

Wow. Just Wow. I'm following the live feed. I'd love to see Lutina's reaction to this. IMO ZH is not a very good liar! No time to pick up rose petals but time to admire his scratch in a mirror which he must have just happened to see rushing out. Oh wait! I need to take the time to clean the DNA from under CP's fingernails!

I hope the jury isn't buying this.

 

[arielilane]

a few seconds ago

The judge says we are going to take a break. "It could be 30 minutes. It could be an hour."


a minute ago

The defense says they've made it clear what the instructions are, but that Hughes has a right to testify.


a few seconds ago

The state says at this point the defense knows Hughes won't follow the order.


3 minutes ago

The judge calls both sides to the bench.

4 minutes ago

Wilkins calls Hughes callous and says he's interrupting the criminal justice system.


5 minutes ago

Wilkins: "I think at this juncture he's waived his right to continue testifying ... He has no intent to follow the rules in this courtroom."


5 minutes ago

Hughes again says that Parcell was sexually abusing Mello's daughter. The state objects. The jury leaves the room.


7 minutes ago

Hughes said he prayed again while leaving the house saying he believed he did the right thing for the right reasons, but if it was God's will that he be connected to the crime he would turn himself in.


9 minutes ago

He says he looked in the mirror and saw Parcell scratched his face. He was worried there would be DNA on Parcell's hands, so he tried to clean them with paint thinner.


10 minutes ago

He drew the blinds and moved Parcell's body away from the windows.

Guilty verdict reached in The Killing on Canebrake trial

FOX Carolina News will be in the courtroom for the duration of the trial and will provide live updates here.

www.wistv.com

 

[arielilane]

Hes a bad liar. moo