Appeals court overturns Skinner's murder-for-hire conviction
Convicted murderer Shirley Skinner, 75, is led from the Adams County Courthouse to a waiting van by Adams County Jail Sgts. Scott Smith, left, and Jared Frankel after Skinner's trial ended Thursday, May 6, 2010, in Quincy, Ill. Skinner was convicted of the first-degree murder of Steven Watkins in Ashland, Ill., in November 2008. (AP Photo/Quincy Herald-Whig, Phil Carlson)An appeals court has overturned Shirley Skinner's conviction for solicitation of murder, but the 76-year-old woman from Ashland won't be getting out of prison anytime soon.
While the Fourth District Appellate Court ruled there was not sufficient proof that Skinner tried to hire someone to kill Steven Watkins, estranged husband of her granddaughter Jennifer Watkins, the court in a ruling this week rejected Skinner's motion to throw out her first-degree murder conviction on grounds of prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel.
*** Read the court decision ***
Skinner, who was convicted last year of shooting Steven Watkins in the back of the head when he went to her home to pick up his daughter for a court-ordered visit, was sentenced to 50 years for first-degree murder and an additional 15 years for solicitation of murder. The appeals court remanded the case to amend Skinner's sentence to reflect the decision to throw out the solicitation conviction.
At trial, an employee of a forest-products business owned by Skinner's family testified that she offered $10,000 to have someone killed. Another employee who was supposedly present could not recall the conversation during testimony. The appeals court called the testimony of the employee who did remember the offer "equivocal and vague."
"It is unconvincing and does not support a beyond-a-reasonable-doubt finding," the court found.
Bruce Rushton can be reached at 788-1542.
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Firefighters responded to the Ashland blaze at about 1:30 am this morning after receiving a report of light smoke issuing from the two story apartment complex on Maubert Court, said Alameda County Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowels.
County Courthouse to a waiting van by Adams County Jail Sgts. Scott Smith, left, and Jared Frankel after Skinner's trial ended Thursday, May 6, 2010, in Quincy, Ill. Skinner was convicted of the first-degree murder of Steven Watkins in Ashland,
“He is a lifelong resident of Lawrence County. He doesn't intend to leave,” Delawder said. McMackin must return to court July 6 for a pretrial conference. Hallie Martin, 20, of Ashland, Ky., was arraigned on one count of possession of drugs.
“There's little doubt who wears the pants in the Ashland basketball family — it's a girl!” The 5-foot-10-inch forward was the first of the great female basketball players from Southern Boone County High School and was a forerunner of a wave of
Ashland resident James Auchincloss was sentenced to eight months in jail Thursday at the Jackson County Circuit Court in Medford. / Julia MooreJulia Moore By Sanne Specht A Jackson County Circuit Court judge revoked probation for Ashland
Aroostook County Superior Court cases May 1-31, 2011 — Maine News ...
Aroostook County Superior Court, Caribou
Cases May 1-31, 2011
Gary P. Beaulier, 39, Ashland, failing to stop all-terrain vehicle, $500; failing to give correct name, address or date of birth, jail 48 hours; operating vehicle while license suspended or revoked, $1,000, jail five days.
Eugene B. Brown, 34, Washburn, criminal restraint, filed, defendant paying court costs, $300.
James F. Campbell, 43, Presque Isle, operating vehicle while under influence of intoxicants, $1,000, license suspended 90 days.
Leo G. Chasse, 48, Grand Isle, unlawful possession of scheduled drug, $400, jail 30 days all suspended, administrative release sentence, one year; cultivating marijuana , $1,300.
Scott A. Churchill, 28, Fort Fairfield, unlawful possession of oxycodone; unlawful furnishing scheduled drug; both counts dismissed.
James G. Clark, 51, Presque Isle, operating vehicle after habitual offender license revocation, $1,500, jail 30 days.
Jon Alan Clayton Jr., 47, Blaine, failing to comply sex offender regulation act, dismissed.
Jessica R. Dennett, 23, Presque Isle, burglary, prison 18 months, all but 30 days suspended, probation one year.
Aaron C. Dyer, 26, Presque Isle, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs , $1,000, prison six years, all but three years suspended, probation three years, restitution $250; unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, $400, prison three years.
Norris R. Frost, 27, Caribou, operating vehicle after habitual offender license revocation, dismissed.
Jody Green, 41, Caribou, assault, $1,000.
Neddel F. Griffin, 63, Mapleton, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, $1,000, jail 30 days all suspended, administrative release sentence, one year.
George P. Howard Jr., 54, Washburn, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, $500.
Nicholas Leavitt, 19, Mapleton, operating vehicle while license suspended or revoked, $500, jail 30 days; violating condition of release, jail 60 days.
Nicholas Leavitt, 19, Mapleton, violating condition of release, $400, jail 60 days.
Nicholas S. Leavitt, 19, Presque Isle, endangering welfare of child, jail 100 days; furnishing liquor to minor, $500; unlawful furnishing scheduled drug, $400, jail 100 days.
Jonathan Lopez, 25, Presque Isle, unlawful possession of scheduled drug, $400, jail five days.
Phillip L. Madore, 52, Presque Isle, domestic violence, criminal threatening, jail nine months, all but 46 days suspended, probation one year.
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