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11:26 AM NOT GUILTY So Says The Jury In Reckless Manslaughter Case

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Sep 30 2024 12:11 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    11:26 AM    The jury of 12 in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court of Houston County, before the Honorable Kevin Moulton, has just returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY.


This is in the October 18,2021 firearm death of Precious Warren at 814 Walnut Street in Dothan. The day of the firearm deah Dothan Police arrested Carmen Laurish Kirkland for Cpital Murder, a death penalty offense.


The jury deliberation began late Friday afternoon and a verdict was received Friday night close to 9 PM. When Judge Moulton polled the jury individually, asking each juror is this your verdict ... 11 of the jurors replied yes and one juror said she finally consented to yes because she was ready to leave and did not want to return next week.


Then 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Kevin Moulton threw the brakes on. There was an alternate juror who heard the closing arguments and jury charges. That juror was willing to join the deliberations. Judge Moulton ordered the jury to return this morning, for the 6th day. After instructions this morning from Judge Moulton at 9:00 AM, the jury of 12 left the courtrooom to begin deliberations all over again.


All parties, the prosecution and defense, the defendant, all had to agree with this change. All agreed.


A little before 11:26 AM the jury returned, UNANIMOUS, that we the jury in the case State ofAlabama verses Carmen Laurish Kirkland find the defendant NOT GUILTY of Reckless Murder. Each of the 12 jurors was asked by Judge Kevin Moulton "is this your verdict"and all affirmed it was. 


Arrested on October 12, 2021 for a death penalty offense, following a preliminary hearing before Houston County District Court Judge Benjamin Lewis there was a bond set. The death penalty case goes before 20th Judicial Circuit - Houston County Grand Juries and indictments returned for Reckless Murder. On this the 30th day of September 2024 she is finally a free lady.


Upon the arrest on October 12, 2021 Carmen Kirkland appeared before Judge Lewis for arraignment. Kirkland hired Shaun McGhee and Derek Yarbrough, two of Dothan's top criminal defense attorney's to represent her.


After arrest and arraignment, a defenadnt has 30 days to request a preliminary hearing. In preliminaryhearings hear say is adminssable. The Judge is establishing probable cause and the bar is not high. But it is a time to hear the evidence. Houston County District Court Judge, packed with a tremendous amount of COMMON SENSE, listens to the facts presented. Lewis knonig the elements that have to be proven, he takes into account. If Judge Lewis feels the evidence presented and the crime charged, Judge Lewis will make the difficult decisions. That is why the bond was set for Carmen Kirkland.


When the indictment came out of grand Jury is did not come out as Capital Murder but as Reckless Manslaughter. When the case was near trial the 20th Judicial Circuit District Attoney Office asked for the case to be remanded to grand jury to correct mistakes in the indictment. The case came t of grand jury for manslaughter, in a broader sense, and not specific subsection.


The trial that kicked off Monday with jury selection ended six days later with verdict. Actual testimony began on Tuesday. The trial was cut short on Thursday because of the hurricane and resumed on Friday, going to the jury late on Friday.


The case was prosecuted by 20th Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Michaela Pope. This is a top notch prosecutor who is very detailed and represents that State of Alabama in a great way. The prosecution theme was the actions of the defendant, Carmen Kirkland were reckless and he first phone call to the boyfriend was "I got your bitch".


The case was defended by Shaun McGhee and Derek Yarbrough, two of Dothan's top notch criminal defense attorney's.The theme was Stand Your Ground defense which includes Stand Your Ground. That the victim, Precious Warren came to Kirkland's house. Not ne bit of evidence ever showed that Kirkland went to Warren's residence. And that Kirkland has a right to defend herself, her unborn child, and others against serious bodily injury or death.


In the legal world, this case was prosecuted and defended by some top notch legal minds, those being Micalea Pope, Shaun McGhee and Derek Yarbrough. All before a Judge that will hold your feet to the fire, and not put up with chasing rabbits, stick to the facts, and keep moving along with the case.


All sides were represented well, and both sides held each other to their burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.


NOTE:    On Friday I knew the events with the jury. I made the decision not to publish anything. The reason being the court switching out the with the alternate juror I did not want to stand a chance of saying the wrong thing.




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