Post by Anja Nieser on Oct 1, 2006 6:30:47 GMT -5
Mothers of 2 victims attend capital murder case hearing
At Eric Stephen Parnell's second pre-trial motion hearing for the alleged
murder of Ana Franklin and rape of her cousin, two women made an
unexpected appearance inside an Angelina County courtroom - their presence
making a loud statement on its own.
Franklin's mother Robin and her sister Rhonda, the mother of Franklin's
cousin Jennifer Holliday, sat solemnly on a public bench inside the
courtroom, each wearing a pinned photograph of Franklin over the left
breast.
The images were intended to serve as a reminder to Parnell, both said,
adding that they are planning to make shirt buttons out of the
photographs.
A bailiff patted the mothers down in the hallway outside the courtroom
before allowing the 2 inside.
After more than an hour of waiting, Parnell's hearing began. Both watched
intently, half a dozen rows behind the defense table.
At one point during the hearing, Parnell turned around, facing the
victims' mothers. The three met eyes for the 1st time.
"He looks like a (expletive) normal person," she said, choking back tears.
"I expected him to be bigger, taller."
"We have to be strong for them (Franklin and Holliday)," said Robin's
sister Rhonda. "It's like a horror story. And no one likes horror stories,
but they're real."
The pre-trial motion hearing in Angelina County District Judge Paul
White's courtroom lasted about 15 minutes. Only the voices of Parnell's
appointed, state-certified death penalty trial lawyer Stephen Tyler,
defense attorney Charles Meyers and Angelina County District Attorney
Clyde Herrington were heard. The 3 updated White with their progress on
the case. Both sides said they have not had trouble obtaining the bulk of
the evidence requested, except for a recorded 911 call Holliday placed
from the home of her alleged captor Parnell, five hours after he allegedly
shot and killed her cousin. The emergency call led to Holliday's rescue
when Angelina County deputies arrived on the scene. The tape remains in
possession of the Angelina County Sheriff's Office.
The next pre-trial motion hearing date is set for Nov. 8.
Parnell is expected to stand trial Jan. 8 for the alleged murder of Ana
Franklin and aggravated sexual assault of her cousin, Jennifer Holliday.
The state is seeking the death penalty for the capital murder charge.
(source: Lufkin Daily News - Editor's note: Normally, names of sexual
assault victims are not printed; however, Holliday has talked openly with
the press about her experience on May 29, 2005.)
At Eric Stephen Parnell's second pre-trial motion hearing for the alleged
murder of Ana Franklin and rape of her cousin, two women made an
unexpected appearance inside an Angelina County courtroom - their presence
making a loud statement on its own.
Franklin's mother Robin and her sister Rhonda, the mother of Franklin's
cousin Jennifer Holliday, sat solemnly on a public bench inside the
courtroom, each wearing a pinned photograph of Franklin over the left
breast.
The images were intended to serve as a reminder to Parnell, both said,
adding that they are planning to make shirt buttons out of the
photographs.
A bailiff patted the mothers down in the hallway outside the courtroom
before allowing the 2 inside.
After more than an hour of waiting, Parnell's hearing began. Both watched
intently, half a dozen rows behind the defense table.
At one point during the hearing, Parnell turned around, facing the
victims' mothers. The three met eyes for the 1st time.
"He looks like a (expletive) normal person," she said, choking back tears.
"I expected him to be bigger, taller."
"We have to be strong for them (Franklin and Holliday)," said Robin's
sister Rhonda. "It's like a horror story. And no one likes horror stories,
but they're real."
The pre-trial motion hearing in Angelina County District Judge Paul
White's courtroom lasted about 15 minutes. Only the voices of Parnell's
appointed, state-certified death penalty trial lawyer Stephen Tyler,
defense attorney Charles Meyers and Angelina County District Attorney
Clyde Herrington were heard. The 3 updated White with their progress on
the case. Both sides said they have not had trouble obtaining the bulk of
the evidence requested, except for a recorded 911 call Holliday placed
from the home of her alleged captor Parnell, five hours after he allegedly
shot and killed her cousin. The emergency call led to Holliday's rescue
when Angelina County deputies arrived on the scene. The tape remains in
possession of the Angelina County Sheriff's Office.
The next pre-trial motion hearing date is set for Nov. 8.
Parnell is expected to stand trial Jan. 8 for the alleged murder of Ana
Franklin and aggravated sexual assault of her cousin, Jennifer Holliday.
The state is seeking the death penalty for the capital murder charge.
(source: Lufkin Daily News - Editor's note: Normally, names of sexual
assault victims are not printed; however, Holliday has talked openly with
the press about her experience on May 29, 2005.)