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Thread: Zachary Dwayne Holly - Arkansas Death Row

  1. #11
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Judge denies appeal to drop death penalty

    A judge has denied a motion to take the death penalty off the table for a man charged with killing his 6-year-old neighbor in northwest Arkansas.

    Twenty-four-year-old Zach Holly is charged with capital murder, rape, kidnapping and residential burglary in the 2012 death of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman. He has pleaded not guilty.

    KHOG reported (http://bit.ly/1elWW9k) Friday that a judge denied Holly's lawyers motion to drop the death penalty.

    Holly's trial is scheduled to start July 29.

    Jersey's death ended a short life marred by abuse. Her father and stepmother were sentenced to prison after being convicted of chaining her to a dresser in 2011.

    http://www.thv11.com/news/article/29...-death-penalty
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  2. #12
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    Defense Gets More Time In Accused Child Killer’s Case

    Zachary Holly’s attorneys have asked for his trial to be pushed back to further prepare for his capital murder case in connection with the death of six-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.

    The trial was scheduled to begin April 15, but has been rescheduled to July 29 in Benton County Circuit Court, according to the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office.

    The case has gone through several delays and mental status hearings since Holly was arrested in November 2012 on suspicion of capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary. The suspect was declared fit for trial following two mental evaluations conducted last year.

    Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren in January denied a motion by the defense attorneys to prevent Zachary Holly from being executed if he is found guilty.

    At his Jan. 7, 2013, arraignment, Holly pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty against Holly in the case.

    The Bentonville girl, who was found killed Nov. 20, 2012, died of asphyxiation, according to an affidavit of probable cause released by authorities.

    Jersey lived at 608 S.E. A St. with her mother, who called the police early in the morning of Nov. 20, 2012, to report her daughter was missing. Officers found Jersey’s body fewer than 15 minutes later in a nearby vacant house at 704 S.E. A St.

    The probable cause affidavit states Holly and his wife babysat Jersey the night of her death while DesaRae Bridgeman and Bridgeman’s boyfriend were working at a nearby convenience store.

    A swab test on Jersey’s body showed traces of sperm, according to the affidavit. Holly consented to cheek swabs for DNA comparison. He also gave authorities clothes he had worn since going to bed the night of Jersey’s death, the report states.

    DesaRae Bridgeman called police at about 6:45 a.m. to report her daughter missing. Jersey and her younger sister shared a bed, but Jersey was nowhere to be seen, the report states. Police estimated her death to have happened between midnight and 6:45 a.m.

    While searching for Jersey, an officer noticed the back door to 704 S.E. A St. was open. Jersey’s body was found minutes later inside the vacant house.

    http://5newsonline.com/2014/04/09/de...-killers-case/

  3. #13
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    Prosecutors will be able to use Holly's statements against him

    Prosecutors will be able to use Zachary Holly's confession as evidence against him during his November murder trial.

    Holly, 29, of Bentonville is charged with capital murder, rape, kidnapping and residential burglary in connection with 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman's Nov. 20, 2012 death. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

    Holly's attorneys had filed a suppression motion seeking to prevent statements that Holly made to police from being used as evidence during the trial

    Circuit Judge Brad Karen presided over a hearing Friday on the issue. Karren ruled against the defense which means prosecutors will be allowed to use Holly's statement as evidence at the trial.

    Karren found that Holly voluntarily agreed to speak with police and on two ocassions he was given Miranda warning before talking with police.

    One of Holly's attorney claimed that police had coerced a confession from Holly during a Nov. 26, 2012 interview at the Bentonville Police Department.

    Kris Moffit, a detective with Bentonville police, testified that he gave Holly his Miranda warning prior to Nov. 26 interview. Moffit denied coercing or making false promises to Holly in order to obtain the confession.

    Moffit and other police officers testified about their contact with Holly. The specifics of what Holly actually told police were not discussed by the witnesses during the hearing.

    Recordings of the interviews were also not played during the hearing.

    Holly's attorneys and prosecutors entered the interviews as exhibits during the hearing. The recordings and transcripts of the interviews were all placed under seal by the judge.

    Holly's jury trial is slated to begin Nov. 3.

    He previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2014/a...gainst/?latest
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  4. #14
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    Murder Trial Set To Start Next Week For Accused Child Killer Zachary Holly

    The murder trial for accused child killer Zachary Holly is set to begin next week as scheduled, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Monday (Oct. 27).

    Jury selection is on track to begin Monday (Nov. 3) in Benton County Circuit Court in Holly’s capital murder trial, according to Nathan Smith, deputy prosecuting attorney. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Monday (Oct. 27) to prepare for the beginning of the murder trial next week.

    Holly is charged with capital murder in the 2012 killing of six-year-old Jersey Bridgeman in Bentonville.

    The case has gone through several delays and mental status hearings since Holly was arrested in November 2012 on suspicion of capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary. The suspect was declared fit for trial following two mental evaluations.

    At his Jan. 7, 2013, arraignment, Holly pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty against Holly in the case.

    Jersey Bridgeman lived at 608 S.E. A St. with her mother, who called the police early in the morning of Nov. 20, 2012, to report her daughter was missing. Officers found the child’s body fewer than 15 minutes later in a nearby vacant house at 704 S.E. A St., officials said.

    The probable cause affidavit states that Holly and his wife babysat the child the night of her death while her mother, DesaRae Bridgeman, and Bridgeman’s boyfriend were working at a nearby convenience store.

    A swab test on Jersey Bridgeman’s body showed traces of sperm, according to the affidavit. Holly consented to cheek swabs for DNA comparison and also gave authorities the clothing he had worn since going to bed the night of Jersey Bridgeman’s death, the report states.

    DesaRae Bridgeman called police at about 6:45 a.m. to report her daughter missing. Jersey Bridgeman and her younger sister shared a bed, but Jersey was nowhere to be seen, the report states. Police estimated her death to have happened between midnight and 6:45 a.m.

    While searching for Jersey Bridgeman, an officer noticed the back door to 704 S.E. A St. was open. The child’s body was found minutes later inside the vacant house.

    The girl died of asphyxiation, according to the probable cause affidavit.

    http://5newsonline.com/2014/10/27/mu...zachary-holly/
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  5. #15
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    Attorney Confession Delays Benton County Capital Murder Trial

    A defense attorney's courtroom confession delays the start of a capital murder trial in Benton County.

    Zachary Holly was set to be tried for the murder of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman, starting Monday. But at a hearing Friday afternoon one of Holly's two defense attorney's, Pat Aydelott, told the judge he could not move forward with the case because he was battling alcoholism and depression. Aydelott told Judge Brad Karren he could not try the case and be effective counsel because he had not prepared adequately for trial.

    Judge Karren removed Aydelott from the case. Attorney Kent McLemore remains on the Holly case. Now the Public Defender Commission must appoint a new attorney to the case.

    Prosecutor Nathan Smith says a new trial date could be set at a hearing on Thursday morning. Smith says Bridgeman's family is very upset about the trial delay.

    Holly is charged with capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary in connection to Bridgeman's death. Her body was found in an abandoned home on Southeast A Street in Bentonville in November of 2012. Holly was Bridgeman's neighbor. He remains in the Benton County Jail without bond.

    http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltext-...pk6c3FawCb1oTQ
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  6. #16
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    New trial set for man charged in NW Arkansas girl's death

    BENTONVILLE, Ar. - A trial date has been set for next year for a northwest Arkansas man charged in the death of a 6-year-old girl.

    Zachary Holly had been scheduled to go to trial this week in the 2012 killing of Jersey Bridgeman, but the case was pushed back. Fayetteville television station KHOG reports that Holly's trial is now set for May 11 in Bentonville.

    Holly has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and rape in the girl's death. Authorities have said Jersey died of asphyxia or lack of oxygen. Authorities say Holly lived next door to Jersey and her family.

    http://www.ky3.com/news/local/new-tr...48998_29585472
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  7. #17
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    Prosecutors can use Holly's DNA sample as evidence

    Circuit Judge Brad Karren ruled Tuesday prosecutors can use Zachary Holly's DNA sample as evidence at his jury trial.

    Holly, 30, of Bentonville is charged with capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary. He is accused of killing 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman. Her body was found in an abandoned house next to Holly's home Nov. 20, 2012.

    Prosecutors will seek the death penalty. Holly is being held in the Benton County jail without bond. Jury selection is to begin May 8.

    Kent McLemore and Robby Golden, Holly's attorneys, filed a suppression motion asking the court to prohibit prosecutors from using Holly's DNA sample as evidence at trial.

    The motion claims police interrogated Holly at the Bentonville Police Department on Nov. 20, 2012. Police requested a DNA swabbing from Holly during the interview and he agreed, according to court documents.

    Golden told Karren police were interviewing Holly's then-wife, but brought him into the room and asked him for a DNA sample. A police detective later brought the couple back into the interview room and said there was paperwork he was supposed to review with them before obtaining a DNA sample.

    Holly and his then-wife signed the consent forms, Golden said.

    Golden said he understands there's no law requiring police to give a warning before obtaining a DNA sample. Golden wanted Karren to expand the law by prohibiting prosecutors from using the DNA sample as evidence.

    Golden compared the issue of obtaining a DNA or blood sample to police seeking consent before searching a home.

    Nathan Smith, Benton County prosecutor, said Golden wanted the court to make a new law, and the only issue is whether Holly voluntarily provided a sample to police. The consent form was a non-issue because Holly voluntarily provided a DNA swab for police, Smith said.

    Karren denied the defense motion after presiding over a short hearing.

    Holly lived next to Jersey's family on Southeast A Street. He and his then-wife sometimes babysat Jersey and her younger sister, according to court documents.

    A medical examiner determined Jersey died from asphyxia, according to court documents.

    Holly will be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty if he is convicted of capital murder.

    The kidnapping charge is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment. The punishment for rape is 25 to 40 years or life imprisonment. A conviction for residential burglary carries a prison sentence of five to 20 years.

    http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2...=news-arkansas
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  8. #18
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    State seeks death penalty In Holly murder trial

    Benton County prosecutors claim to have a confession in hand, and they want the death penalty for the Bentonville man accused of raping and strangling 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.

    Defense attorneys will try to convince jurors Zachary Holly is innocent. If he's convicted, they will ask jurors to spare his life. They've been working to develop evidence for a potential penalty phase of the trial that might build jurors' sympathy.

    The trial began with jury selection Friday in Bentonville. It could last up to three weeks.

    Prosecutors and defense attorneys will begin questioning prospective jurors this morning. They need to select 12 jurors and three alternates.

    Little is known about the state's evidence in the case. The judge sealed key DNA results and the specifics of what Holly told police. Court documents say he initially denied having anything to do with Jersey's disappearance or death.

    Prosecutors and defense attorneys have mentioned Holly's confession in pretrial hearings, but Holly's interviews were never played in open court.

    Holly, 30, is charged with capital murder, rape, kidnapping and residential burglary in Jersey's Nov. 20, 2012, death. Holly was arrested six days later. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Kim Weber, an attorney in private practice in Rogers, said the defense has to make sure the case is about Holly, not the victim.

    "A little girl has been killed in a horrible, horrible way, but this is not technically her trial," Weber said. "The trial is about the accused and whether or not he committed the crime and what punishment is available."
    Keeping the focus on Holly may be difficult.

    More than 100 people gathered the night of Nov. 21, 2012, at the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County for a candlelight vigil in Jersey's memory.

    Hundreds of people, many who never met Jersey, attended her memorial service Nov. 27, 2012. Jersey's white casket was surrounded by pink and purple flowers, her favorite colors. Some mourners brought pink carnations tied with purple ribbons.

    A photo slide show during the service showed a smiling Jersey wearing a tiara, perched on a four-wheeler, dancing in a yellow tutu with glittery wings and posing with her mother and other family and friends. Jersey, who attended Sugar Creek Elementary School, was remembered as a happy child.

    Ultimate Penalty

    Former Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Threet, who sought the death penalty four times and secured it twice for convicted murderers, said no prosecutor takes lightly the decision to ask for the ultimate punishment.

    Threet is now a circuit judge in Washington County. His comments came shortly before Holly's trial was to begin in November. The trial was postponed because of an issue with one of Holly's then attorneys. Threet was prosecuting attorney last November.

    "The death penalty is heavily weighted against the state through the whole process -- and it should be," Threet said. "The death penalty should be reserved for certain cases where you feel the citizens of the community should decide if the death penalty is appropriate. In Arkansas, we've got 31 people on death row and that goes back to 1989. So, it's not used that often."

    Threet said he considered the laundry lists of aggravating and mitigating factors in state law and consulted with the victims' families in each case before deciding to seek the death penalty.

    Benton County prosecutors have cited three aggravating factors for seeking the death penalty against Holly. First, they allege the murder was cruel and depraved; second, they claim the murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding arrest for another crime, and the last factor is the age of the victim.

    Defense attorneys have not yet disclosed any mitigating factors, but abuse allegations surrounding Holly's childhood is certain to be on the list. The defense has not disclosed any specific details concerning the abuse.

    Mitigating factors can be almost unlimited, but prosecutors are limited to a list of 10 aggravating circumstances. A jury must find at least one aggravating circumstance exists before it can return a death verdict, Threet said. A few aggravating factors can trump multiple mitigating factors.

    "The jury ultimately decides whether those mitigating circumstances outweigh what this person did," Threet said. "You have to look at what a jury is going to think of the situation."

    Threet said the character and lifestyle of the victim always comes into play, and he thinks juries tend to be more sympathetic to a victim with "clean hands" like a child.

    Families of some murder victims push for the death penalty, but others will accept a plea bargain of a life sentence in order to avoid the trial, Threet said.

    "A lot of these families don't want to have to go through that, it's excruciating," Threet said. "I've had multiple times when families decided they did not want to pursue it because they'd have to relive the whole thing, dwell on it and have to talk about it every day. That's terrible for them."

    The process does not end with a death sentence. The appeals process in Arkansas averages well over a decade and, because of legal challenges to the lethal injection protocols, Arkansas has not executed anyone since 2005.

    It's also difficult and time-consuming to empanel a jury in a death penalty case, Threet said.

    "You can't sit if you believe the death penalty should be automatic. You can't sit if you believe the death penalty is never appropriate," Threet said. "You want objective jurors who will follow the law. If you have a preconceived notion, you can't be seated."

    Weber, a former deputy prosecutor and assistant U.S. attorney, noted there has been very little information released about the case by prosecutors.

    "I expect difficult hurdles for the prosecution. I anticipate it's not going to be as black and white as it's seemed in the paper," Weber said. "We don't know the facts yet. The state has to prove who did what beyond a reasonable doubt."

    Weber said she expects jurors will find it is much harder to make a decision in a court of law than in the court of public opinion.

    "It doesn't matter what's said in the barber shop or the doughnut shop in mornings. It's easy to make that quick call," Weber said. "It's a lot different when you're on the hot seat, and a man's life is on the line."

    Jersey's Death

    Holly lived in a trailer house next to Jersey's family on Southwest A Street. Holly and his wife sometimes babysat Jersey and her younger sister. The night before Jersey's death, the couple watched the girls as their mother, DesaRae Bridgeman, worked.

    When mom got off work, Holly carried a sleeping Jersey back to her house and placed her in her bed, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

    In one interview, Holly told police he awoke at 3:35 a.m. Nov. 20 with an upset stomach and walked to the E-Z Mart at Southwest Eighth and A streets to get medication, according to court documents. Police obtained video from the store and a sales tape showing Holly did make the purchase. Brandon Crouch, the boyfriend of Jersey's mom, worked the overnight shift at the E-Z Mart during that time, according to court documents.

    DesaRae Bridgeman awoke that morning and found Jersey missing from their home. Bentonville police got a call at 6:43 a.m. Two officers found Jersey's body within 15 minutes while searching an empty house at 704 S.E. A St., two doors south of her home and on the other side of Holly's residence.

    A swab obtained from Jersey's body was tested and revealed some sperm cells, according to court documents. The state crime lab developed a DNA profile and begin making comparisons from known samples. Detectives took cheek swabs from Holly for DNA comparison. Holly also gave detectives the clothing he said he had been wearing since he went to bed the night of Nov. 19.

    The results of the DNA testing remain under seal.

    The defense team was dealt a blow in August when Circuit Judge Brad Karren ruled statements Holly made to police can be used at trial. Holly's defense team argued police coerced a confession from him during a Nov. 26, 2012, interview at the Bentonville Police Department. Karren found the statements were given voluntarily.

    The judge also denied a second motion to suppress the statements, and he recently denied an attempt by Holly's attorneys to exclude the DNA sample collected from Holly from being used as evidence.

    Childhood Abuse

    Jersey was the victim in another criminal case about a year before her death. She was found Dec. 2, 2011, chained to a dresser in the Rogers home where she lived with her father and stepmother, David Bridgeman and Jana Slinkard.

    David Bridgeman admitted chaining Jersey to the dresser for three days. He claimed he was trying to protect her because she sleepwalked. He pleaded guilty to felony charges and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Bridgeman is serving his sentence at the Arkansas Department of Correction's Pine Bluff Unit. His expected parole date is Nov. 1.

    Slinkard was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but has since been released. She was paroled Sept. 25.

    David Bridgeman wasn't allowed to attend Jersey's funeral.

    The jury will not hear testimony regarding Jersey's prior abuse. The defense filed a motion to prevent prosecutors from presenting evidence of the child's injuries and Nathan Smith, Benton County prosecuting attorney, told the court they were not planning to introduce the information concerning Jersey's abuse during the trial.

    The defense has been working to paint a picture of Holly's troubled childhood as mitigating evidence for a potential penalty phase of the trial.

    "You normally think of death penalty cases as trying to save their life," Weber said. "I have a lot of respect for people in the defense community who can do these kinds of cases."

    Holly spent much of his childhood in Bakersfield and Oildale, Calif. He and his siblings were the subjects of numerous abuse and neglect referrals between 1993 and 1997. The Kern County, Calif., Department of Human Services has supplied more than 300 pages of reports, summaries and other documents generated by at least 12 caseworkers and supervisors in connection with at least 14 referrals involving Holly.

    Two case workers, Margarita Soza and Jana Davis, are on the defense witness list. The defense lists 15 possible witnesses, which includes several of Holly's family members.

    The prosecution lists 48, but some are the same as the defense's.

    The Arkansas State Hospital did intelligence testing and a mental evaluation to determine if Holly was fit to stand trial. The defense had additional testing done by its own expert. The results of the tests remain under seal, but defense lawyers and prosecutors said Holly is fit to stand trial.

    http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2015/m...in-holly-murd/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  9. #19
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Jury selection continues in Zachary Holly trial

    Holly charged in Jersey Bridgeman's death

    BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Jury selection continues for the capital murder trial of a Bentonville man charged with kidnapping, raping and killing a 6-year-old girl.

    Zachary Holly is charged in the November 20th, 2012 death of Jersey Bridgeman.

    He has pleaded not guilty and faces a possible death sentence if convicted.

    Jury selection is expected to take up to a week to seat 12 jurors and three alternates.

    Opening statements are scheduled for May 18th.

    Almost 100 potential jurors arrived Friday in Benton County Circuit Court and that eight were dismissed because they are related to or know someone involved in the case.

    http://www.4029tv.com/news/jury-sele...death/32960214
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  10. #20
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    Jury chosen, alternates next in trial of man in girl's death

    A 12-member jury has been selected for the capital murder trial of a Bentonville man in the death of a 6-year-old girl.

    The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that attorneys will now work to select three alternates for the trial of 30-year-old Zachary Holly.

    Opening statements are to begin next week.

    Holly is charged with capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary in the November 2012 death of Jersey Bridgeman.

    He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail.

    Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty if Holly is convicted.

    http://www.thv11.com/story/news/2015...eath/27451951/
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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