Days after District Decide Kevin Mullins was shot and killed in his courthouse chambers, allegedly by his longtime pal, Letcher County Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines, newly launched surveillance footage exhibits a heated alternate between the 2 inside Mullins’ workplace on September 19 earlier than the incident occurred.
The video captures the second Stines, 43, pulled out a gun and pointed it on the decide’s head.Moments later, Stines allegedly opened fireplace, taking pictures Mullins a number of instances. The 54-year-old decide, who had served within the district for years, died on the scene.
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Earlier that very same day, the 2 males had shared lunch, giving no outward signal of the deadly confrontation to come back. Sheriff Stines, now going through fees of homicide, had been an in depth pal of Mullins for many years.
Testifying on the listening to, Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper revealed that simply earlier than the taking pictures, Stines tried to name his daughter utilizing each his telephone and Decide Mullins’ telephone. Stamper mentioned the sheriff’s daughter’s quantity was saved on Mullins’ telephone, elevating questions concerning the nature of their relationship and what could have triggered the violent confrontation.
“I used to be advised that Sheriff Stines had tried to name his daughter, and he had tried to name his daughter from the decide’s telephone additionally,” Stamper mentioned, in line with The Related Press. When requested whether or not the taking pictures could have been linked to one thing Stines found on the telephone, Stamper responded: “It might be, however I don’t know that for a reality.”
Based on the New York Put up, the motive behind the taking pictures stays unclear, although authorities are reportedly investigating a attainable connection to a intercourse scandal, although no additional particulars have been supplied.
In the course of the preliminary listening to on October 1, Decide Rupert Wilhoit III dominated that there was sufficient possible trigger to imagine that Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines dedicated the crime, permitting the case to maneuver ahead to a grand jury. The grand jury will resolve whether or not to formally indict Stines on fees of murdering District Decide Kevin Mullins.
Following the listening to, Stines’ protection workforce expressed doubts concerning the proof introduced, stating that they left with “extra questions than solutions.” The protection additionally revealed that they’re conducting a “parallel investigation” to assemble extra details about the case.
If Stines is convicted of homicide, he faces a possible sentence of 20 years to life in jail. On condition that the sufferer was a public official, the sheriff may additionally face the loss of life penalty.