Man Murders Wife and Son, 2 Daughters Survive(2 Death Sentences)
MuffyBee:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/65666372.html
Jury selection begins in Pearl River trial where wife, son were killed
by Doug Mouton / Northshore Bureau Chief
Posted October 12, 2009, Updated October 22, 2009
NEW ORLEANS - Prosecutors and defense attorneys spent the day screening potential jurors in the murder case against Pearl River's James Magee.
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Magee is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the killing of his wife and 5-year-old son, back in April of 2007.
Jurors will be screened Monday and Tuesday, and the actual selection of jurors will begin Wednesday.
Judge Rusty Knight told potential jurors this afternoon to expect a trial that lasts between five and seven days.
With such a high profile case, law experts say the big question at this point is whether James Magee can get a fair trial in St. Tammany Parish. Loyola University Law Professor, Dane Ciolino, said the judge will have to make that decision.
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St. Tammany District Attorney Walter Reed is seeking the death penalty in this case.
MuffyBee:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/65666487.html
Man faces possible death penalty in killing of wife, child
by Doug Mouton / Eyewitness News
Posted October 13, 2009, Updated October 22, 2009
Adrienne and Ashton Magee Credit: WWL-TV
MANDEVILLE, La. - Attorneys are expected to begin selecting jurors Wednesday in the murder case against James Magee of Pearl River.
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Magee is accused of shooting and killing his wife and 5-year-old son, Adrienne and Ashton Magee, back in April 2007. It happened in the Tall Timbers subdivision north of Mandeville.
At the time, St. Tammany District Attorney Walter Reed called it the most heinous crime he had seen in his 24 years as District Attorney.
James Magee was arrested in Mobile later the same night. St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain said at the time, Magee admitted to the killing.
"This is going to be very difficult for the defense," said Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Ciolino said the child victim changes the nature of this case.
"Jurors look at children as innocent," Ciolino said, "as having no role in any of the underlying offenses and as just pure innocent victims. The killing of a child is the most difficult case that any lawyer doing death penalty defense work has to deal with."
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At the time of her murder, Adrienne Magee had a restraining order against her husband. James Magee grew up in the Bogalusa area.
Judge Rusty Knight told potential jurors to expect a trial that lasts five to seven days. The trial could begin Thursday. There is a gag order in the case, which means attorneys will not be allowed to speak to the media during the trial.
MuffyBee:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/65666727.html
Opening arguments set in man accused of killing wife, son
by Hassan Aquil / Eyewitness News
Posted on October 15, 2009, Updated October 22, 2009
MANDEVILLE, La. - Opening arguments began are set to begin in the murder trial of a man accused of killing his wife and young son.
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Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
MuffyBee:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/65666747.html
Defendant's attorneys say he killed wife, son while under pain medication
by Doug Mouton / Northshore Bureau Chief
Posted October 15, 2009, Updated October 22, 2009
James Magee Credit: WWL-TV
COVINGTON, La. - Thursday evening during opening statements, James Magee's attorney admitted Magee shot and killed his wife Adrienne and his 5-year old-son Ashton.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the double murder, which happened in the Tall Timbers subdivision north of Mandeville back in April 2007.
Magee's attorney, Bill Alford, told jurors James Magee stalked his wife, followed her, rammed his car into her car until she crashed, then shot his wife and his son.?
"We are not suggesting he's not guilty," Alford said. "We will not make excuses."
Alford said Magee was using a combination of pain relievers for foot pain, which led to him taking stronger drugs.?Alford said, "From the time he began taking that pain medication, his life spiraled downward."
Near the end of his 15-minute opening statement, Alford told jurors, "If you can come up with a reason why this happened, you're better than me."
Alford followed an emotional 15 minute opening statement by lead prosecutor Scott Gardner.
"Adrienne Magee was a pretty, tiny preschool teacher," Gardner said, "adored by her three small children."
Sheriff Jack Strain said back in April of 2007 that at the time of her murder, Adrienne Magee had a restraining order against James Magee.?
"She spent her final days hiding her children from the killer," Gardner said Thursday evening.?"The last seconds of her life were filled with the terror of being killed in their presence."
Gardner described in detail how Adrienne Magee was shot in the head at point blank range by a 12 gauge shotgun,?and how 5-year-old Ashton, known as Zach, was shot in the back at extremely close range, then shot again in the face.?
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Magee is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for shooting at his two daughters.? Gardner said before Magee could get to them, neighbors scared him away.?
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MuffyBee:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/65666862.html
Jurors cry at testimony in slaying of woman, young child
by Doug Mouton / Eyewitness News
Posted October 16, 2009, Updated October 22, 2009
COVINGTON, La. - Several jurors cried during the first day of testimony in the trial of a man accused of gunning down his wife and young child two years ago in an upscale Mandeville subdivision.
James Magee is accused of killing his wife and son and the defense admitted in opening statements that he did the shooting but claimed he was under the influence of medication for a foot injury.
The dramatic testimony came from Dell Bryars who witnessed the shooting and who washed some of the blood stains out of the street.
Bryars was the first person on the scene and his testimony Friday was similar to the eyewitness account he provided WWL-TV in April 2007.
He testified how he saw a crash with one vehicle rear-ending the other one.
"First thing I know, I see the rifle come up and boom, the shot," he said. "I told my wife and daughter, 'Oh Jesus, he shot the woman.'"
Bryars said he saw the young boy in the street with half of his head blown off.
Jurors also heard the frantic 911 call placed by Bryars' wife.
Scott Gardner, the lead prosecutor in the case said Dell deserved credit for saving Magee's two daughters by scaring him away. As Bryar's testified, several jurors cried.
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