One man was recently convicted in the Jessica Currin murder case, which had gone unsolved since 2000, and others are scheduled for trial in the near future.
It seems that one of the suspects, Tamara Caldwell, is being held in the Crittenden County Detention Center. The issue was raised during a hearing Wednesday in Clinton, Ky., where the case was moved to due to pretrial publicity.
A prosecutor lashed out at Kentucky State Police Lt. Brent White, who also lives in Marion. He questioned White's conduct in speaking to Caldwell in the Crittenden jail the night that Qunicy Cross was convicted in April. Caldwell's attorney has asked for the charges against his client to be dismissed, largely based on that jail contact. Two Crittenden deputy jailers testified at the hearing in Clinton.
The Paducah Sun had an article on the matter yesterday. Here is an excerpt from that Sun story:
The motions hinged on the conduct of a state police lieutenant the night of Cross’ conviction, the jury’s recommendation for Cross’ sentence and the pending perjury trial of expected witness Rosie Crice.
Two correctional officers from the Crittenden County Jail testified Wednesday that state police Lt. Brent White came to the jail about 11:50 p.m. the day Cross was convicted and had Caldwell awakened. Deputy jailer Tina Rushing testified that she heard White say, “I know I’m not supposed to talk to you without your attorney present,” but that he continued to do so.
Caldwell cursed White as she returned to her cell, Rushing said. White then told Rushing to put Caldwell in isolation, she said. She did so.
“I just need to point out how shocked I am at the actions of Officer Brent White that evening,” Caldwell’s attorney Jim Gibson said. He asked for dismissal of the murder charge or exclusion of the death penalty as a remedy for what he called White’s egregious misconduct.
The Press printed edition will be working on a followup to this story, which does not provide White's side of the matter, nor any comment from the prosecution side.
