Tyler Morning Telegraph reporter Kenneth Dean is covering the trial of capital murder defendant Blaine Milam:
Exorcism murder defendant Blaine Milam was led into the 4th District Court this morning as his defense team of Rick Hagan and John Moore began arguing objections in the capital murder case that rocked Rusk County in 2008.
Milam, who appears 30 pounds heavier than when he was arrested, listened as Hagan and Rusk County District Attorney Micheal Jimerson bantered with each other over objections of testimony and interviews with law enforcement being admissible to the trial.
The trial due to publicity was moved to Montgomery County in order to give Milam a fair trial in the brutal beating death of 13-month-old Amora Bain Carson in December 2008 in an “exorcism” that went badly.
The child’s mother, Jessica Carson, is Milam’s co-defendant, but is being tried separately.
Judge Clay Gossett overruled the objections made by the defense team, including statements the defendant allegedly made to Texas Rangers and bite marks and DNA in the case.
Rusk County District Attorney Micheal Jimerson, utilizing a Powerpoint presentation, began his opening argument in the case against Milam.
Jimerson said on Dec, 2, 2008 13-month-old Amora Carson was robbed of her life and of her innocence. He apologized for what the jurors would have to endure during the trial. He explained the murder was brutal, and the scene was one that gave law enforcement officials nightmares.
“Justice for Amora Bain Carson is worth facing what you are going to have to face,” he said.
[…]Steve Jackson, a Montgomery County attorney assisting with the defense, began cross-examining Sgt. Roy about his testimony.
Jackson questioned Roy’s experience and the actions of the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office on the day of the murder and the department’s leaving the home unsecured as a crime scene for more than a week before detectives went back for additional evidence.
Jackson already voiced several objections throughout the first day of testimony and has called for a mistrial multiple times, which Judge Clay Gossett has overruled.
Jackson asked if Roy understood the contamination of evidence, and Roy said yes he was aware of what contamination was.
Jackson then said allowing Milam and Ms. Carson to get back together after they had been separated at the scene was a huge risk of contamination of evidence and the possibility to develop a story about the crime.
Jackson asked if lead detective Amber Roger handled the case appropriately, or how Roy would have handled it, to which Roy finally answered he would have handled the case differently.
“We’re only two witnesses into this trial, and do you see the problems we already have here?” Jackson asked.
Roy replied, “There were some mistakes made.”
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