Prosecutors presented a video allegedly showing the murder of a Kentucky judge by a former sheriff during a court hearing on Tuesday.
Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, attended the hearing in custody attire during his trial for the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54. The court watched a no-audio surveillance video showing Mullins taking cover behind his desk as Stines allegedly fired multiple rounds at him.
Mullins attempted to move again, prompting Stines to shoot several more times before exiting the room. Although the video snippet lasted only 20 seconds, officials stated that the complete footage was significantly longer and remained undisclosed during the hearing, CNN reported.
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Stines reportedly shot and killed Mullins in a rural courthouse on Sept. 19 following a dispute that occurred in the judge’s chambers in Letcher County. Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper said that earlier that day, Stines and Mullins had dined amicably with others, with no apparent conflicts reported, CNN stated.
However, a crucial conversation about meeting privately in Mullins’ chambers later emerged from their lunch discussion. Stamper also noted peculiar behavior by Stines involving personal phone calls made before the shooting, observed in parts of the video not shown in court.
“I was told that Sheriff Stines had tried to call his daughter, and he had tried to call his daughter from the judge’s phone also,” Stamper said, CNN reported.
Stines surrendered to authorities immediately after the incident as he expressed concerns for his family’s safety, according to CNN. “When he was taken into custody, I was told by one of the other officers there that he made the comment, ‘They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid,’” Stamper added.
Judge Rupert Wilhoit determined there was probable cause to send the first-degree murder charge to a grand jury, however, defense attorney Jeremy Bartley contested the charge and said that while probable cause might exist for first-degree manslaughter, it does not extend to murder, CNN reported. (RELATED: REPORT: FBI Agents Raid Home, Ex-Judge Inside Kills Himself)
Stines pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at his arraignment on Sept. 25, WKYT reported. The hearing took place one day after Stines formally resigned from his sheriff’s position, according to a letter from his attorneys that WKYT obtained.
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