At 1:30 PM today attorneys from both sides in the Thomas Leggs case met with the Honorable Judge Long to discuss three topics.
Of course the first was the change of venue. Judge Long expressed how difficult it is going to be to move the case. For starters, many of the Courts are now short staffed, over crowded dockets and some are under renovations.
The second issue was how long the case would take overall. The final question was, when will both parties be ready to try the case.
States Attorney Davis Ruark stated he expected the case to last around 15 days or three weeks, considering there are only 5 work days in each week.
The Defense attorney went on about how she expected it to take an additional three weeks considering the DNA and Biological evidence. Davis stood up and stated, your honor, when I said three weeks I included what we felt would be their time and our time. I can't see this case lasting longer than 3 weeks over all.
This case may be the first death penalty case to be tried under the new law. While there is still evidence being investigated by the Maryland State Police and FBI Labs, they expect that evidence to be returned in mid July.
The Judge asked about the Hicks law. The defense attorneys have 180 days to review the evidence but that would be extended an additional 180 days under the Hicks law from the day they change the venue. However, Leggs was willing to waive that and said so in court today.
After all was said and done, everyone agreed that this case would not go to trial before January or February of 2011. The defense attorney asked for access to their client on nights and weekend, wherever they change the venue to.
She went on to talk about the massive publicity this case has received, especially here on the Shore. She mentioned the 3,000 people that showed up to search for Sarah as well as a recent Birthday celebration where hundreds of people showed up.
The biggest kicker of today's hearing was the fact that O'Donnell also mentioned certain national studies that were done referencing Baltimore City having the second highest conviction rate in death penalty cases and she did not want the case heard there. She even mentioned how she feared for the Jurors personally and perhaps in their own businesses being ridiculed by the public.
There was much discussion about the Families on both sides being subjected to traveling so far from home each day if the case was sent to let's say Rockville as an example. Witnesses would also have to travel daily back and forth and could create a major hardship. Judge Long stated he should have an answer by next week as to where the case would be sent.
To give you an idea about criminals on death row, Jody Lee Myers is from Wicomico County and has been on death row for 12 years now. Until Governor O'Malley either changes his mind or we get a new Governor in Office with a set of stones willing to make changes to the death penalty, I don't think it's going to matter where the case is held. One thing is for sure, this trial is going to take about a year. It may only takes weeks to try but by the time they sentence him it will be a year. I can't see Judge Long sending the case too very far away from this County though. There's too much at stake and the expenses would be far too high. The case will more than likely be heard somewhere here on the Eastern Shore.
Time will tell.
18 comments:
That name is Jody Lee Miles and he murdered Edward Atkinson on April 2, 1997. He was convicted in the spring of 1998 and sentenced to death. We are still awaiting his punishment 12 years after his sentencing. Go figure!
It will be heard in a progressive county like Howard or Montgommery County, guaranteed.
Maybe they'll take it over to St. Mary's County in Southern Maryland. I don't care where they try and convict him as long as he gets a death sentence.
I bet he makes them stay here.
Let him OUT! Save the time and money. No one would ever know what happened to him. Only the fish and they arent talking.
why cant it be like the old days you know 100% he is guilty and its one of the sickest crimes a human being could committ. why cant we just take him out and hang him like they did back in the day?
I sort of thought Carroll County would probably be considered but now after reading Joe's comments about the hearing today, Maybe Judge Long is considering someplace like Cecil County.
Save our taxpayer money and time and turn him loose in general population. After a few days of much deserved torture, they would take care of him.
It would be pointless to relocate the trial. This was not eastern shore news, nor was it Maryland news. Sarah's death was national news. People all over the country know of Sarah and have seen Leggs picture plastered on newspapers and TV's. There is no sense in adding expenses and causing travel difficulties for those involved.
If he did kill Sarah (don't jump me I know there is supposed to be overwhelming evidence, but I haven't seen it) or if he didn't it doesn't matter where the case is held it just matters that justice is served.
Who are those Baltomoron lawyers trying to kid? Do they honestly think any business will suffer because they support the death penalty for a sick monster like Leggs? Why are they only concerned for jurors in Baltimore? I'd like to know how they sleep at night knowing they are going to fight to defend the likes of Thomas J. Leggs, Jr.
9:53...what are you talking about? Put down the coors or natural light and read slow enough for your brain to keep up k?
I hope he is suffering right now in jail worrying about it. Did anyone consider that what he did to Sarah Foxwell, her family, her little friends and teachers, the searchers, law enforcement, and people in this community like me with children, or the rest of our community? He needs the death penalty and I hope he gets it. He will have a different judgment day before God one day and will get a one way ticket straight to hell! Maybe his body will be found on Christmas Day.
You're saying our governor lacks a set of stones? I'd say his stones are pretty big to live and govern by the conviction that it's up to God, not men, to snuff out a life.
Would they moving the trial if Lewis and Ruark had not stated they sought the death penalty?
I guess they remember where the last mob lynching in America took place.......lucky for him
Here is my opinion. When all is said and done this will not go to trial. Plea agreement reached with life in prison with no chance of parole. That is how I see it turning out. Just do it know and save the state a whole lot of money in a trial. I wish he would get the death penalty but how long would he be on death row if convicted and sentenced to death? I have heard a death row inmate cost a lot more to house. And if he is put in general population... well you know.
Plead it out now and save the tax payers a whole lot of money.
Where in this state has not the jury pool heard of leggs?
A friend in Pueblo, Colorado knows of it. It was plastered all over the news, all across the nation. Esp after Christmas day.
Jim, I beg to differ. I might eat my words, but I do believe this will go to the Jury and the prosecutors will seek the death penalty. Eugene Winder is sitting on death row right now for the Fruitland murders of his girlfriend and her grandparents and then setting the house on fire. There is justice and there will be in this case also.
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