Prosecutors seek death penalty in Winston County double murder
Prosecutors will seek seek the death penalty for Shannon Edward Payne, who was arrested and charged with the Oct. 6 double murder of Maxine Carroll and Bryan Stephens in Winston County.
Payne was indicted Nov. 26, 2013, with two counts of capital murder. On January 31, Payne plead not guilty.
The court has also ordered than Payne undergo a mental examination at the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility in Tuscaloosa to ensure he is competent to stand trial. Until the examination is completed and results are submitted, the proceedings of the trial have been suspended.
In light of the potential death sentence, the defense has sought heightened standards in the case.
According to the defense’s motion to apply heightened standards, “the possibility of a death sentence in this case implicates important state and federal constitutional concerns that require special attention by this court, the prosecutor, court officials and everyone else involved in these proceedings.”
This motion is supported by the United States Supreme Court ruling the Constitution deems capital cases non-parallel to non-capital cases.
The Case
Payne is charged with shooting both Carroll and Stephens at 23797 County Road 41 in Addison.
According to the investigation, one other individual was present at the residence during the time of the shooting. Samantha Jo Filyaw, Payne’s girlfriend, said she was present at the time of the murder and told law enforcement that she witnessed Payne “shoot both Carroll and Stephens with Stephens’ rifle.”
Afterwards, according to Filyaw, she and Stephens left the residence in the deceased Stephens’ Ford F15. After traveling for “multiple” days in the in vehicle, the two returned to the residence in Addison. Inside the truck was Stephens’ smartphone.
After authorities requested Verizon Wireless provide the GPS and cell tower information for the phone numbers, the search was still unsuccessful.
According to the warrant’s report, “insufficient information was given to where Verizon could not give any information on the request.”
http://www.cullmantimes.com/news/art...a4bcf887a.html
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