Prosecutors presented a video purportedly showing the murder of a Kentucky judge by a former sheriff during a court hearing Tuesday.
Former Letcher County Sheriff Sean “Mickey” Stines, 43, appeared in jail uniform during his trial for the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54. The court watched surveillance cameras without audio. video The footage shows Mullins hiding behind a desk as Stines allegedly fires several shots at Mullins.
Mullins tried to move again, and Stines fired several more shots before leaving the room. Although the video snippet lasted only 20 seconds, officials said the full footage was considerably longer and remained private during the hearing, CNN reported. reported.
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Stines reportedly shot and killed Mullins in a rural courthouse on September 19 after an argument in a Letcher County judge's office. Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper said earlier in the day that Stein and Mullins had been eating amicably with others and that no apparent conflict was reported, according to CNN.
But then an important conversation about meeting privately in Mullins' room emerged from the lunch conversation. Stamper also noted Stines' strange behavior observed in portions of the video not shown in court, including a personal phone call made before the shooting.
“I heard that Sheriff Stines tried to call his daughter, and he also tried to call her from the judge's phone,” Stamper said, according to a CNN report.
According to CNN, Stines turned himself in to authorities shortly after the incident, expressing concern for the safety of his family. “When he was taken into custody, I heard from one of the other officers there that he made the comment, 'They're trying to kidnap my wife and child,'” Stamper added.
Judge Rupert Wilhoit ruled there was probable cause to send the first-degree murder charge to a grand jury, but defense attorney Jeremy Bartley objected to the charge, saying there was probable cause to send the first-degree murder charge to a grand jury. may exist, but it does not amount to murder, CNN reported. (Related: Report: FBI agents raid home, former judge commits suicide)
Stines pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at his Sept. 25 arraignment on WKYT. reported. The hearing took place the day after Stines officially resigned from his position as sheriff, according to a letter from his attorney revealed by WKYT. obtained.
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