Laura Jean Ackerson -- Deceased 7/13/11 -- Grant and Amanda Hayes Charged With Murder

Ahhhhhh.....justice for Laura. The GH demeanor changed too, no smiling, winking, laughing with his lawyers, no bopping to any songs. I did not see him taken out of the courtroom...buffering problems on wral for me, but....so long forever, evil "little" dude.

Wow~ That jury came back right quick.
Sentenced to life with out parole.
Now. Let's see Amanda receive a similar sentence...
and take those children away from the Hayes family to be raised by Laura's father or her brother....

I appreciate Laura's father for his daily presence in the court.
He stood by his dau to see justice carried thru.
Peace and blessings to her family and may she eventually know her own peace resting in God's hands.

 

I was expecting a verdict today, but that was quicker than I expected.  So glad he was found guilty.  I'll bet Laura's friends are all highly relieved that he will never be out on the street again.

R.I.P, Laura Jean Ackerson.

Jury finds Grant Hayes guilty of ex-girlfriend's grisly murder
Posted: 7:01 a.m. today  Updated: 1:15 p.m. today

Raleigh, N.C. — A jury of four men and eight women deliberated for less than two hours Monday morning before finding a Raleigh man guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his sons.

"I think that a jury verdict in a case like this, in an hour and a half, probably speaks louder than anything anyone could say about this case," Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens said prior to sentencing Grant Ruffin Hayes, 34, who was convicted in the July 13, 2011, killing of Laura Jean Ackerson.

Jurors began deciding the case shortly before 10 a.m. and notified the court bailiff shortly before 11:30 a.m. that they had reached a verdict.
-----

Read more:  http://www.wral.com/jury-finds-grant-hayes-guilty-of-ex-girlfriend-s-grisly-murder/12889158/

Fantastic news! I wonder if he's rocking now?.?.

One Wonders wrote:Fantastic news! I wonder if he's rocking now?.?.

I was thinking the exact same thing!  He's got all the time in the world to rock out now...

Yeah! that was great news, and so quick too, lets hope the Arias jury are as quick and smart as this one.

I was wondering if this gave GH time to work on his "music"....
and develop it into something recognizable as music.
His lyrics stink...

Carla---
Good to see you!  
Why so down? Your little "mood" thing shows you're sad...
Hope things are doing okay for you and the sadness was for yesterday.

Below, I'm embedding one of the short videos from CP's link, above.  Both Laura's father and brother make short statements.  Laura's father says he is going home to bury Laura.  It's so sad.
_________________________

ABC 11 | Grant Hayes found guilty of Raleigh murder of Laura Ackerson

Monday, September 16, 2013



RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Monday morning, eight women and four men found Grant Hayes guilty of first-degree murder in the killing and dismemberment of Laura Ackerson - who was the mother of his two oldest children.

The group deliberated for just an hour and a half.

Read more:  http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9249930

They finally got a new picture!  Yay!
_________________________


Kinston.com | Hayes found guilty of first degree murder

By Bryan C. Hanks / Editor | Published: Monday, September 16, 2013 at 21:51 PM



As Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens read the jury’s verdict, which was delivered to Hayes following a three-week trial, Hayes listened without any visible emotion. After dismissing the eight-woman, four-man jury, Stephens handed down his sentence.

“(The quick verdict) probably speaks louder than anything anyone could say about this case,” Stephens said. “It is the judgment of this court that you be sentenced to the North Carolina Department of Correction for the period of your natural life without the benefit of parole.”

Hayes, dressed in a white linen shirt, was then handcuffed, shackled and led from the courtroom, where he will begin serving his life sentence.

Read more:  (4 page write-up)  http://www.kinston.com/news/local/hayes-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder-1.203749?page=0

There is a VIDEO at the following link, but I couldn't find the embed code for it.  (Sorry.)
_________________________


WCTI | Jury convicts Hayes in killing of Kinston mom Laura Ackerson

Police: Ackerson dismembered in 2011, remains found in Texas

By WCTI Staff | POSTED: 2:33 PM Aug 16 2013 UPDATED: 6:28 PM Sep 16 2013

Wake County Assistant District Attorney Boz Zellinger called Ackerson's murder "calculated" and "malignant." He said Raleigh Police found bleach spots on the floor of the Hayes' Raleigh apartment. In addition, one of the bathrooms was missing a shower curtain and bath mats, Zellinger said.

Amanda Hayes' trial is expected to start on Jan. 20, 2014.

Read more:  http://www.wcti12.com/news/couple-accused-of-murdering-lenoir-co-mom-attends-pretrial-hearing/-/13530444/21498702/-/8g88m5/-/index.html

Amanda Hayes faces accessory charge in Kinston woman's murder
Posted: 10:30 a.m. today

Snipped:
-----
Raleigh, N.C. — A grand jury returned an indictment Monday for accessory after the fact of murder against Amanda Hayes. Her husband, Grant Hayes, was found guilty last month of the murder of his former girlfriend and the mother of his two children, Laura Jean Ackerson of Kinston.

Amanda Hayes is also charged with Ackerson's murder and is set for trial in January.
-----

Read more:  http://www.wral.com/amanda-hayes-faces-accessory-charge-in-kinston-woman-s-murder-/12972002/

There is a good video at this link, (which I can't get to embed.)  They suggest these news charges could be a 'contingency plan,' so to speak--in other words if they can't get her on murder, they might get the 'accessory after the fact' charge to to stick.  Another thing they mention is a possible plea deal.

I hope the state says no.  She is every bit as guilty as he is, imo.  

That murder was planned by them both and carried out by them both.  It was the two of them working together--or Laura would be alive today.
_________________________

ABC 11 | Grand jury indicts Grant Hayes' wife, Amanda, in Laura Ackerson murder

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

VIDEO at link.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Wake County grand jury has issued a new indictment that adds an "accessory after the fact of murder" charge against Grant Hayes' wife, Amanda.

{Snipped}

Read more:  http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9279258

Grant Hayes wife, Amanda Hayes, please not guilty in murder of Laura Ackerman

===Charged w/ murder, and accessory after the fact of a murder
===Amanda Hayes has trial set for JAN 20th.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9314332

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9362315

snipped:
"Court documents obtained by ABC11 Monday revealed that Amanda Hayes' attorney, Johnny Gaskins, petitioned the court to take custody of the SUV the couple allegedly drove to Texas for 48 hours to examine it.

Gaskins received the silver 2009 Dodge Durango on Saturday and returned it to the Raleigh Police Department Monday before noon.

Following the inspection, Gaskins filed a motion that stated while he had the SUV he found " ... a physical item that is critical to the defendant's ability to properly and adequately defend herself at trial."
Gaskins also wrote, "It appears that the officers of the Raleigh Police Department and the State of North Carolina failed to recognize the item for what it was."


This sounds mighty convenient for her defense. Imagine the odds that this item was just lying around in their car for months waiting for the defense attorney to recognize its importance.

ishi wrote:http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9362315

snipped:
"Court documents obtained by ABC11 Monday revealed that Amanda Hayes' attorney, Johnny Gaskins, petitioned the court to take custody of the SUV the couple allegedly drove to Texas for 48 hours to examine it.

Gaskins received the silver 2009 Dodge Durango on Saturday and returned it to the Raleigh Police Department Monday before noon.

Following the inspection, Gaskins filed a motion that stated while he had the SUV he found " ... a physical item that is critical to the defendant's ability to properly and adequately defend herself at trial."
Gaskins also wrote, "It appears that the officers of the Raleigh Police Department and the State of North Carolina failed to recognize the item for what it was."


This sounds mighty convenient for her defense. Imagine the odds that this item was just lying around in their car for months waiting for the defense attorney to recognize its importance.

Gosh, I hope we find out what that "physical item of evidence" is on Thursday.

Talk about drama.

She probably told them exactly where to look.

Apparently, the item in question is a biohazard suit.  The prosecution is saying it was there all along, not so says the defense.

WRAL | Hayes defense wants biohazard suit tested in Ackerson killing
Updated: 6:33 p.m. Thursday

In a response filed late Thursday afternoon to the defense motion, the state said the suit and gloves belonged to investigators and that they were used "to avoid contamination of the vehicle and to make sure no potential evidence was lost."

The items, prosecutors said, were left in plain view on the front seat as part of normal protocol.

"Neither the biohazard suit taken from the Dodge Durango by the defense nor the gloves, which remain in the vehicle, were used in the commission of the murder or dismemberment of Laura Ackerson," the state's motion said.

Gaskins disagreed in an email to WRAL News.

"We have photos that the Raleigh Police Department took of the Durango before they searched it," he said. "The biohazard suit and gloves are inside the vehicle along with the items they later seized. The suit and gloves were there all along."

Read more:  http://www.wral.com/hayes-defense-wants-biohazard-suit-tested-in-ackerson-killing/13232413/

Yet more "new evidence":

New evidence found in Amanda Hayes case
Updated at 11:22 PM today

Snipped:
-----
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Just weeks before she'll meet a jury of her own peers, Amanda Hayes attorneys claim there's new evidence.

According to court documents, a knife was found in the Grant Hayes' vehicle. Defense attorneys claim they just learned about the knife from police. It was discovered in the SUV used in the crime.

...In a motion filed by Amanda's attorneys they wrote, "The discovery of a 'knife' inside of the Dodge Durango is important because the defendant's husband, Grant Ruffin Hayes III, threatened to kill the defendant and their children with a 'machete' while they were in Richmond, Texas. The 'machete' was introduced into evidence at the trial of Ruffin Grant Hayes III. It is still in the possession of the State of North Carolina."
-----

Read more:  http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9370368

------------------------------
The knife's important because Grant threatened her with a machete that's already in evidence?  Huh?  This defense team sounds desperate already.  Why are they just finding out about all of this supposed evidence now?

CuriousPortlander wrote:Yet more "new evidence":

New evidence found in Amanda Hayes case
Updated at 11:22 PM today

Snipped:
-----
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Just weeks before she'll meet a jury of her own peers, Amanda Hayes attorneys claim there's new evidence.

According to court documents, a knife was found in the Grant Hayes' vehicle. Defense attorneys claim they just learned about the knife from police. It was discovered in the SUV used in the crime.

...In a motion filed by Amanda's attorneys they wrote, "The discovery of a 'knife' inside of the Dodge Durango is important because the defendant's husband, Grant Ruffin Hayes III, threatened to kill the defendant and their children with a 'machete' while they were in Richmond, Texas. The 'machete' was introduced into evidence at the trial of Ruffin Grant Hayes III. It is still in the possession of the State of North Carolina."
-----

Read more:  http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9370368

------------------------------
The knife's important because Grant threatened her with a machete that's already in evidence?  Huh?  This defense team sounds desperate already.  Why are they just finding out about all of this supposed evidence now?

My guess...So they can accuse the state of withholding important info. I'll not go on and on as we all know the words and step to this song and dance.

Defense is using the pasta on the wall litmus test to excuse ALL actions of their client. It is not unnoticed the hazmat suits the Texas team used in recovering the many body parts of the hacked up remains of Laura Jean Ackerman. Nor does it escape my attention the camera capturing Amanda Hayes dumping the pool acid at the end hog pen.....

Pic of the knife.
It will be tested for DNA.
Short snippet of article.

http://www.wral.com/exclusive-photo-shows-knife-found-in-ackerson-slaying-case/13259809/

Freckles wrote:Pic of the knife.
It will be tested for DNA.
Short snippet of article.

http://www.wral.com/exclusive-photo-shows-knife-found-in-ackerson-slaying-case/13259809/

Here's the picture:

Grant Hayes could testify in wife's murder trial
Posted 11:38 a.m. yesterday  Updated 5:23 p.m. yesterday

Snipped:
-----
Raleigh, N.C. — A man convicted of murder and serving a life sentence may take the stand to prevent his wife from the same fate.

...Her trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection Jan. 21, and her lawyers told a judge Friday that they are considering called Grant Hayes as a witness.

Amanda Hayes' attorney, Johnny Gaskins, said he plans to prove Grant Hayes alone killed Ackerson and that his wife was living in fear of him. Gaskins has said a knife found in the Hayeses' SUV will further bolster his argument.

...Grant Hayes has appealed his conviction and, if called to testify for his wife, it is likely he would take the Fifth to avoid damaging his chances for that appeal.
-----
(BBM)

Read more:  http://www.wral.com/grant-hayes-could-testify-in-wife-s-murder-trial/13288374/

Grant Hayes speaks in jailhouse interview

Updated at 05:56 PM - January 16, 2014

WTVD - Raleigh/Durham, NC


RALEIGH (WTVD) --  Grant Hayes, the man convicted by a Wake County jury last year of killing the mother of two of his children - and cutting up her body - spoke with ABC11 for the first time Thursday.

Snipped:

Grant Hayes said he didn't kill Ackerson. He claimed Amanda killed her in an act of self defense, but he did admit helping get rid of the body by cutting it up with a power saw.

"It's awful.  It's something you never want to experience or know what it's like.  It's haunting," said Hayes.  

Hayes has a long list of grievances against prosecutors, his defense team, and investigators and is confident he has the evidence to get a new trial that will exonerate him.

Read more and view video:  

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9396161

Amanda Hayes' trial starts with jury selection next week . . . 1/21/14.

I assume WRAL will stream the trial "live" and archive like they did Grant Hayes' trial.

I may not be able to watch 'live' every day but I do look forward to watching archived videos when I have time.
I really do like Judge Stephens!

pdf:

LOCATION: WAKE COURTHOUSE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION COUNTY OF WAKE

COURT DATE: 01/21/14    TIME: 10:00 AM    COURTROOM NUMBER: 0701

SUPERIOR COURT TRIAL CALENDAR

NO. FILE NUMBER DEFENDANT NAME CONT
*************************************************************************************
001 11 CRS 008657 HAYES,AMANDA,P P.D.: ROSEMARY GODWIN ADA: BOZ
AKA: HAYES,AMANDA,PERRY , SMITH,AMANDA  
TB: 080811
(F)FIRST DEGREE MURDER FAULK,J,D RPD
CLS:A P: L: PLEA: VER: JUDGMENT:
001 13 CRS 007784 HAYES,AMANDA,PERRY ADA: RWH
TB: 100713
(F)ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT TO MU FAULK,J,D RPD
CLS: P: L: PLEA: VER: JUDGMENT:

Read more (pdf):

http://www1.aoc.state.nc.us/www/ActionPdfGenerator.do?realrptloc=file%3A%2F%2F%2F%2Fpubdir%2Faopubprd%2Fwww%2Fdata%2FWAKE%2Fcalendar%2FSUPERIOR.SUPERIOR_COURT_TRIAL_.01.21.14.AM.0701.CAL.txt&caltype=Criminal
State of NC - Wake County Court Calendar - Superior Court trial for 1/21/14  - pdf
~~~~~

Amanda Hayes trial on court calendar for 1/21/14 at 10 a.m. EST.

Charges:  First degree murder &  Accessory after the fact to murder

IMO, Hayes is trying to send an alibi to his wife, Amanda, who has a trial pending... Using media to communicate.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9396161

http://www.wral.com/convicted-killer-speaks-out-in-wife-s-defense-before-her-murder-trial/13308036/
WRAL - Raleigh, NC   -- 1/17/14

Convicted killer speaks out in wife's defense before her murder trial

Snipped:

Amanda Hayes' attorney, Johnny Gaskins, is expected to argue that Grant Hayes killed Ackerson and that Amanda Hayes helped dispose of the body only because she feared for her and the children's safety.

Grant Hayes said his attorneys advised him against testifying during his trial, but he wanted to speak out before his wife's trial because he doesn't want her to share his fate.

"I love my wife. I took a vow to protect my wife," he said. "Laura got herself killed."
~~~~~~

The audacity of this convicted killer, Grant Hayes,  to say that Laura got herself killed.

 I hope Amanda Hayes is convicted as charged.  She deserves to spend the rest of her life in prison.  The death penalty would be a good thing for her.

Ann - Tx wrote:
http://www.wral.com/convicted-killer-speaks-out-in-wife-s-defense-before-her-murder-trial/13308036/
WRAL - Raleigh, NC   -- 1/17/14

Convicted killer speaks out in wife's defense before her murder trial

Snipped:

[i]Amanda Hayes' attorney, Johnny Gaskins, is expected to argue that Grant Hayes killed Ackerson and that Amanda Hayes helped dispose of the body only because she feared for her and the children's safety.

Grant Hayes said his attorneys advised him against testifying during his trial, but he wanted to speak out before his wife's trial because he doesn't want her to share his fate.

"I love my wife. I took a vow to protect my wife," he said. "Laura got herself killed."
~~~~~~

The audacity of this convicted killer, Grant Hayes,  to say that Laura got herself killed.

 I hope Amanda Hayes is convicted as charged.  She deserves to spend the rest of her life in prison.  The death penalty would be a good thing for her.

OMGosh, talk about big head syndrome..."Laura got herself killed"??? I have no words.

One Wonders, I was stunned that Grant Hayes would say such a thing! But . . . it should not have stunned me as Hayes had a cocky attitude during his trial. A few times he'd walk in smiling and acting like he was at a party instead of his murder trial.

I think Amanda Hayes' trial will be interesting. It will be real interesting to see how her attorneys "put the spin" on things. They will probably try to make the jury think that Amanda was a "victim of Grant Hayes."

Hope she is found guilty and at the very least will spend the rest of her life in prison.

Trial starts with jury selection tomorrow.

Murder trial of Amanda Hayes begins in Raleigh on Tuesday

January 20, 2014

News Observer - Raleigh, NC


RALEIGH — Grant Hayes, a musician convicted this fall of murdering the mother of his two children, soon could be back in the same courthouse where he was sentenced to life in prison.

The murder trial of Amanda Hayes, his wife, is set to begin Tuesday with jury selection, and Grant Hayes, 34, could be called as a witness in the case.

Snipped:

The defense team for Amanda Hayes has given a glimpse of her defense in court documents and pre-trial hearings.

They contend Amanda Hayes has an alibi for the time of Ackerson’s death and was coerced into helping dispose of the body.

They have characterized Grant Hayes as an intimidator who threatened Amanda Hayes before and after her arrest. They say he sent a letter from the Wake County jail after his arrest in 2011, in which he threatened to kill Amanda Hayes.

But lawyers for Grant Hayes described the case as one that was “about a man covering up his wife’s actions.” They argued that the homicide was “not something that was planned. But it was something that happened.”

Read more:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/01/20/3549628/murder-trial-of-amanda-hayes-begins.html

I can't find a link on WRAL this morning so I assume they will not show jury selection. I hope they televise the trial though! I am really looking forward to watching this one.

Amanda Hayes murder trial begins today

By  Wes Wolfe / Staff Writer
Kinston Free Press - Kinston, NC

Published: Monday, January 20, 2014 at 20:20 PM.



Amanda Perry Hayes


RALEIGH — Amanda Perry Hayes begins her trial on a first-degree murder charge today.

A Wake County jury convicted her husband, Grant, 34, for first-degree murder in September for the homicide of former Kinston resident Laura Jean Ackerson in 2011.

State prosecutors believe the couple acted in concert to kill Ackerson — Grant Hayes’ ex-girlfriend and mother of their two children.

Ackerson was 27.

Through her attorney, and her sister who testified in the Grant Hayes case, Amanda Hayes, 41, maintains she’s not guilty and only assisted in disposing of the body under coercion and fear for her life.

Prosecutors added a charge of accessory after the fact to Amanda Hayes last year, leaving the door open to a conviction on a lesser charge. While conviction on first-degree murder would mean life in prison without parole, the accessory charge could mean less than 10 years in prison.

Read multi-page article here:

http://www.kinston.com/news/local/amanda-hayes-murder-trial-begins-today-1.265189

ishi wrote:I can't find a link on WRAL this morning so I assume they will not show jury selection. I hope they televise the trial though! I am really looking forward to watching this one.

Good morning, ishi! WRAL did not stream jury selection for Grant Hayes trial; not Jason Young's trial either. Maybe Judge Stephens does not allow it. I don't know.

I assume that WRAL will stream this trial. They do a great job of streaming and an awesome job of archiving the day's testimony. I won't be able to watch very much of the trial in "real" time but I hope to watch the archived videos later each night.

This should be a very interesting trial.

I just called WRAL - Raleigh, NC and spoke to a manager.

WRAL will be streaming Amanda Hayes' trial live when testimony begins.  Jury selection is not streamed.

I don't know when Wes Wolfe - Reporter with Kinston Free Press, Kinston, NC will begin tweeting about the trial but below is his Twitter Link.
~~~~~~~

Keep up with the trial on Twitter

Follow up-to-the-minute details from the Amanda Hayes murder trial today by following Free Press Crime Reporter Wes Wolfe on Twitter at @WolfeReports.

https://twitter.com/WolfeReports


Source:

http://www.kinston.com/news/local/amanda-hayes-murder-trial-begins-today-1.265189?page=2
Kinston Free Press - Kinston, NC   1/21/14     Amanda Hayes murder trial begins today

Wes Wolfe ‏@WolfeReports  44s  
You are looking live at the opening of the trial against Amanda Hayes for the Laura #Ackerson murder. Jury selection coming up.

https://twitter.com/WolfeReports

Trial to begin for Wake Co. woman accused of killing husband's ex-girlfriend

Posted: Jan 21, 2014 5:28 AM CST
Updated: Jan 21, 2014 5:28 AM CST

by WNCN Staff
WNCN - Raleigh, NC


RALEIGH, N.C. -
The trial of a Wake County woman accused of killing her husband's ex-girlfriend and dumping her dismembered body in a Texas creek is expected to begin Tuesday.

Read more and view video:

http://www.wncn.com/story/24504377/wake-co-woman-accused-of-killing

Wes Wolfe is tweeting from Wake County Justice Center re Amanda Hayes trial - jury selection.  You can follow Wes' tweets at Link below.

You do not need a Twitter account to read Wes' tweets.
~~~~~~~


Wes Wolfe ‏@WolfeReports  1m  
I'm at Wake County Justice Center (Raleigh, NC) w/ 4 others http://4sq.com/1mAGR2V

Wes Wolfe ‏@WolfeReports  5m  
We've got a big ol' group of jurors coming in. May be awhile as the group gets reduced. #ackerson

Wes Wolfe ‏@WolfeReports  8m  
We may be in for a four-week trial, the judge says. #Ackerson

Wes Wolfe ‏@WolfeReports  14m  
The defense wants jurors to know Grant was found guilty of first-degree murder. #Ackerson

Wes Wolfe ‏@WolfeReports  15m  
The result of the Grant Hayes trial, in which he was found guilty, will be an issue in jury selection. #Ackerson


Source:

https://twitter.com/WolfeReports

Per Wes' above tweets, Amanda Hayes' trial might last 4 weeks per the judge.

Oh thank you so much Ann!! I will follow the tweets until the trial starts. I hope we can get a group in chat once the trial starts. I have missed everyone!

yw, ishi!

I was not able to "live" chat very often; maybe once for a brief while.

However, it is so nice to be able to watch a trial and "live" chat.  

I wish Justice4All would set up a live stream with chat for the Amanda Hayes trial.  That would be so nice!

So good to see you, ishi.   

Ann - Tx wrote:
I just called WRAL - Raleigh, NC and spoke to a manager.

WRAL will be streaming Amanda Hayes' trial live when testimony begins.  Jury selection is not streamed.

Thank you Ann. At least we now know we can go to chat during the trial. Yippiii I can hardly wait to see everyone there, it's been way too long.

yw, One Wonders.

I know there was a great group on Chat during Grant Hayes' trial and a great job was done by others of keeping this thread updated too.

It will be like a "homecoming" on chat! Seeing cyber friends again.

https://twitter.com/EdCrumpABC11
Twitter -Ed Crump (ABC11) - Raleigh, NC

Ed Crump ‏@EdCrumpABC11  2h  
Amanda Hayes huddles with attorneys at start of Laura Ackerson murder trial. ABC 11 pic.twitter.com/sgZbFUCTH9

Informative video. Per the reporter, jury selection will last the rest of this week. Trial anticipated to be 4 weeks.

Please view video at Linked site. Clips from court room in video.
~~~~~

Amanda Hayes trial in murder of Laura Ackerson begins in Raleigh

Updated at 12:45 PM today - 1/21/2014

WTVD - Raleigh, NC


RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of Amanda Hayes - who is accused in the murder and dismemberment of Laura Ackerson.

Read more & view video:

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9401682

Glad to see we have the same judge, Judge Stephens, as Grant Hayes had. It means the judge is up on the case.