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Tuesday, 02 August 2016 14:05

State lays groundwork in Horton trial

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The state began laying its groundwork, introducing 21 pieces of pictorial evidence, in its effort to win a conviction against Jimmel Horton.

Before Judge Alma Hinton called for a morning break, Assistant District Attorney Keith Werner introduced the crime scene photos with Lieutenant Joseph Sealey of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office on the stand.
As of the break, the state had not began full-blown questioning of Sealey, the lead investigator in the case, in which Horton is accused of killing Chris Harrison and Monte Hines on October 27, 2013.
For the most part of his time on the stand this morning, Sealey confirmed whether the photos Werner introduced as evidence would be helpful in his testimony.
Werner, in his opening statement told a jury comprised of Warren County residents the story behind the murders is a complicated one, involving multiple parties, but in the end will show Horton was responsible for both murders. “You have to pay attention to every witness. Each witness has a story to tell you.”
Mitchell Steyers, a Warrenton attorney representing Horton, told the jurors the case is simple, that it wasn’t about robbery for drugs and money. “It’s about a girl,” Tierra Burnell, who dated Harrison. “At some point she broke up with Chris Harrison and took up with Monte Hines … From the evidence you will see, they (Harrison and Hines) shot each other.”
The photographic evidence Werner was introducing this morning indicated there is no evidence to show Harrison fired shots.
While 9mm shell casings were found from Harrison’s house to a path which led to his house off Zoo Road South, there was no 9mm handgun found. A 40-caliber handgun, which was found near Hines on the pathway had jammed, Sealey said.
Investigators found Hines the next morning, Sealey said.
Explaining why investigators didn’t find him that evening, Sealey said, “It was extremely dark. There was no blood trail leaving from the residence. We didn’t think there was an additional victim.”
Horton’s first trial ended in a mistrial because of a conflict of interest.
The Warren County jury was brought in after the state sought a change of venue in the case.

 

 

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