Jury acquits woman of first-degree murder (TN)

[Andrew Rothman]

While I sympathize greatly with the mom, her actions were clearly illegal.

Here's a bit from another news story about the case:

http://www3.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_3698654,00.html

Cunningham took to the witness stand Wednesday and told jurors a tale of family betrayal and motherly devotion.

She told jurors that she and her husband of 18 years have three children - two daughters and a son.

Her sister has two sons. Hundley was the boys' father and lived with Cunningham's sister.

She testified that she was devastated when, in July 2003, her youngest daughter and her son, now 14, told her that Hundley's eldest son had repeatedly molested them.

"I called 911, and they gave me the right number to call," she said.

That number, she said, was for a social services agency. That agency insisted she make an appointment, which she did. Eventually, an investigation by the Knox County Sheriff's Office was initiated, she said.

She admitted under a brief cross-examination by Headrick that she smashed Hundley's son's car in anger but denied that she had ever threatened the boy or Hundley.

She said Hundley "didn't believe" the allegations and "threatened me" if she pressed forward with a probe. In August 2003, she got a license to legally carry a gun and began carrying a 38-caliber revolver - loaded - in a purse, she said.

On the night before the slaying, Cunningham said her daughter mentioned having "dreams" of being molested by Hundley but "cut me off" when the mother pressed further.

"I didn't sleep all night long," she said. "I just kept thinking over and over what's going on, what's going on?"

The next morning, her daughter alleged that Hundley had raped her when the girl was 9, Cunningham testified. Cunningham drove to Slide Lock Tool Co. on Topside Road, where Hundley worked, to confront him, she said.

"He started laughing at me," she told jurors. "He said, 'So what are you going to do?' I just don't know what happened."

After the shooting, Cunningham drove to KCSO and surrendered, KCSO Lt. Mike Grissom testified.

Grissom said she was "dazed and confused" and at one point began sobbing as she leaned her head against an elevator. He asked if she was OK.

"She (said) her heart hurt," he said.

Cunningham's daughter and son both testified Wednesday, describing their alleged molestation.

Jurors also heard a 20-minute tape of an interview Cunningham gave to Alcoa Police Department Sgt. Terry McGill in which she continually sobbed and begged McGill to make sure someone took "my kids somewhere where they're safe."

Headrick's key witness was Ulyes Williams, a lifelong friend of Hundley's who testified he witnessed the shooting and that Cunningham had threatened Hundley before.

"She was a wild woman," he said.

He and Poston jousted repeatedly during cross-examination over alleged inconsistencies in statements he has made about the case.

"I ain't no liar," Williams said.

To summarize:

JULY `03: Shooter-mom's kids tell her that the cousin (the dead guy's son) had molested them. The shooter-mom called the cops and eventually an investigation was started. Shooter-mom confronts dead guy about HIS SON'S alleged molestation and beats the crap out of the cousin's car.

AUGUST: Shooter-mom gets a CCW.

OCTOBER: Daughter tells shooter-mom that dead guy raped her years ago. Shooter-mom doesn't call police. She drives to his place of work and guns him down.

Did the dead guy rape the daughter? Maybe. Probably. But the mom didn't even try calling the cops. She got her gun, drove over to the dead guy's work, and shot him dead.

She's lucky she wasn't convicted of premeditated murder. She should definitely go down for heat-of-passion killing.


Hey, I agree that the guy needed killin'. But WE CAN'T BE JUDGE, JURY AND EXECUTIONER. Even alleged scumballs deserve their day in court.