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Defense and prosecution maneuver before murder trial begins
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| Kris Parker is led away from the Greene County Courthouse Friday by Bailiffs David Davidson. |
By Miranda Remaklus
mremaklus@paragoulddailypress.com
The defense team for Kris Parker wants all the T’s crossed and I’s dotted before his trail begins. The team will defend Parker, 34, of Kennett, Mo., against allegations of capital murder, rape and kidnapping.
Around 10:30 p.m., on June 6, 2007, Paragould police responded to 1508 Linwood Drive at the request of the mother of Tiffany Parker, 30, of the Linwood address. The mother, Jerris Raines, contacted authorities after she was unable to get in touch with her daughters. Once entry was made into the residence by Paragould officers, they found Tiffany lying on the floor deceased.
Raines attempted to get in touch with Tiffany between 7:30 and 8 p.m., but did not get a response. At 8:18 p.m., Raines told authorities she received a call from Parker on Tiffany’s cell phone. Parker told Raines that Tiffany was in the shower and couldn’t come to the phone.
Paragould Police Lt. Tony Williams said a “blunt object” believed to be the murder weapon was located in the eastern part of Greene County.
Raines told authorities Tiffany had custody of her and Kris’s son, Carson. He was missing at the time.
At 8 a.m., June 7, Carson was returned to Sheriff Dan Langston in western Greene County.
After further investigation of the scene, a charge of rape was added.
During Friday’s hearing, defense attorneys Cheryl Batten and Robbie Golden discussed several issues connected with the charges filed.
Batten said the state needed to be more specific in relation to why Parker was being charged with capital murder, rape and kidnapping.
Deputy Prosecutor Kimberly Dale said she wanted to leave open the kidnapping charge because the law states kidnapping happens when a person is taken and used for ransom or as a shield or if the person is taken after the commission of another felony such as capital murder.
Dale said the charge of rape was by forcible compulsion. “I believe it was forcible compulsion due to the way the body was found at the scene,” Dale said.
Dale said the capital murder charge involved an “extreme indifference to human life.” The prosecutor explained it involved the indifference due to “circumstances of the manner in which the death occurred, the weapon used, the way the body was left at the scene and the fleeing afterwards.”
A motion to suppress the testimony of Kris Parker’s other ex-wives was denied. Batten said she believed the other women will have accusations of domestic violence. Batten said she believes the defense has a right to know what these women will say because the state knows what they will say.
“I don’t want the case tried before we even have a trial,” said Circuit Judge David Laser. “Some of the evidence in this case may not be ruled on before trial.”
Laser also denied a motion by the defense to drop the capital murder charge.
A motion to remove the death penalty from the case due to the method of lethal injection used by the state was deferred. According to Dale, the Arkansas Supreme Court is currently studying the issue to determine if the type of lethal injection used by the state is cruel and unusual punishment.
Batten and Golden were also assured by Laser that no one but him made the decision to exclude a juror from duty. He said he would not give up this ability, either. “People have hardships that make it hard for them to even come here,” Laser said.
Around 10:30 p.m., on June 6, 2007, Paragould police responded to 1508 Linwood Drive at the request of the mother of Tiffany Parker, 30, of the Linwood address. The mother, Jerris Raines, contacted authorities after she was unable to get in touch with her daughters. Once entry was made into the residence by Paragould officers, they found Tiffany lying on the floor deceased.
Raines attempted to get in touch with Tiffany between 7:30 and 8 p.m., but did not get a response. At 8:18 p.m., Raines told authorities she received a call from Parker on Tiffany’s cell phone. Parker told Raines that Tiffany was in the shower and couldn’t come to the phone.
Paragould Police Lt. Tony Williams said a “blunt object” believed to be the murder weapon was located in the eastern part of Greene County.
Raines told authorities Tiffany had custody of her and Kris’s son, Carson. He was missing at the time.
At 8 a.m., June 7, Carson was returned to Sheriff Dan Langston in western Greene County.
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During Friday’s hearing, defense attorneys Cheryl Batten and Robbie Golden discussed several issues connected with the charges filed.
Batten said the state needed to be more specific in relation to why Parker was being charged with capital murder, rape and kidnapping.
Deputy Prosecutor Kimberly Dale said she wanted to leave open the kidnapping charge because the law states kidnapping happens when a person is taken and used for ransom or as a shield or if the person is taken after the commission of another felony such as capital murder.
Dale said the charge of rape was by forcible compulsion. “I believe it was forcible compulsion due to the way the body was found at the scene,” Dale said.
Dale said the capital murder charge involved an “extreme indifference to human life.” The prosecutor explained it involved the indifference due to “circumstances of the manner in which the death occurred, the weapon used, the way the body was left at the scene and the fleeing afterwards.”
A motion to suppress the testimony of Kris Parker’s other ex-wives was denied. Batten said she believed the other women will have accusations of domestic violence. Batten said she believes the defense has a right to know what these women will say because the state knows what they will say.
“I don’t want the case tried before we even have a trial,” said Circuit Judge David Laser. “Some of the evidence in this case may not be ruled on before trial.”
Laser also denied a motion by the defense to drop the capital murder charge.
A motion to remove the death penalty from the case due to the method of lethal injection used by the state was deferred. According to Dale, the Arkansas Supreme Court is currently studying the issue to determine if the type of lethal injection used by the state is cruel and unusual punishment.
Batten and Golden were also assured by Laser that no one but him made the decision to exclude a juror from duty. He said he would not give up this ability, either. “People have hardships that make it hard for them to even come here,” Laser said.
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