Motion Hearing For New Trial In Marianna Quad Murders Case
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Updated: 8:55 PM Oct 23, 2009
Motion Hearing For New Trial In Marianna Quad Murders Case
Circuit Judge William Wright has yet to schedule a sentencing date for Marianna Quad Murderer Wesley Williams. That's because Williams' attorney was back in court this morning, trying to get his client a new trial.
Posted: 8:55 PM Oct 23, 2009
Reporter: Vanessa Nguyen
Email Address: vanessa.nguyen@wjhg.com
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Circuit Judge William Wright has yet to schedule a sentencing date for Marianna Quad Murderer Wesley Williams.
That's because Williams' attorney was back in court this morning, trying to get his client a new trial.
Public Defender Walter Smith presented a battery of motions, that Judge Wright will now have to consider.

The trial may be over but there's a possibility Marianna Quad Murderer Wesley Williams may get a new one.
A jury found Wesley Williams guilty of the March 17, 2005 murders of 19-year-old Danielle Baker and her three sons earlier this month.
Public Defender Walter Smith, argued the only evidence that links Williams to the murders comes from two witness testimonies: Williams' best friend, Donald Allen and Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen.
"If you believe the account given by Frank McKeithen and Lieutenant Smiley, it places him at the scene but that's all it does. There's no evidence he ever participated in it, simply mere presence at the scene of a crime."
Smith argued that wasn't enough to convict Williams as a principle to the crime, and the two testimonies contradict each other.
"They both can't be true. Donald Allen's account, if it's to be believed is 'Wesley Williams told me he did it. And he told me he did it by himself."
But Prosecutor Larry Basford countered Smith's argument by saying both men only testified to what Williams told them and the state was able to corroborate several of Allen's statements.
"The phone records, the projectile that was found and the other witnesses who indicated the defendant had been upset at Ms. Baker."
Basford also pointed out the defendant lied several times to authorities.
"Why were you in Marianna? Your telephone indicates you were here but yet you say you were in Sneads? And he told the investigators, 'you're the investigator, you figure it out.'"
Circuit Judge William Wright then asked the state to show what facts prove Williams' individual guilt, which can be sustained by the Florida Supreme Court.
"The involvement of the defendant is what they look at. What did he do, what did he cause to be done, what did he know was done. I have to make those findings."
As for the penalty phase, Wright said he must examine Williams' involvement with each victim.
But his Mitochondrial DNA was only found on a limb hair affixed to Amarion Baker.
"If I take that that was his hair, and not somebody else's hair and if I take that hair was left at the time of the murder which again I have to do that, then it only involves that one child."
Wright asked both attorneys to begin preparing for the penalty phase if he denies the request for a retrial.

Judge Wright says he'll rule on Smith's motion for a new trial sometime next week.
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