tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post1940122771325636307..comments2024-03-12T21:13:06.850-05:00Comments on Legal Schnauzer: Is Ryan Gerald Russell, like the now free Anthony Ray Hinton, wrongfully sitting on Alabama's death row?legalschnauzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-63960298111366873912016-08-03T20:51:11.020-05:002016-08-03T20:51:11.020-05:00As being a family member related to those involved...As being a family member related to those involved in this case I can tell you without a doubt Ryan Russell is guilty. I was also present for the entire trial. A guilty man is sitting on death row where he needs to be. Evidence pertinent to the case was not released to the public but was given in court. He shot Katherine execution style between a wall and the washer/dryer using a baseball cap and one of Katherine's training bras as a silencer. Then he proceeded to put Katherine's body in a trash can into his SUV with probable plans to go dump her body somewhere. He also sexually abused Katherine. Whether or not you have all the information in your research, he was convicted for a crime he did commit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-64188896761060915362015-11-19T11:59:26.248-06:002015-11-19T11:59:26.248-06:00I know Ryan, and have known him for almost 20 year...I know Ryan, and have known him for almost 20 years. He always liked to drink but took a turn for the worse immediately following the tragic death of his mother. <br />There is more than what came out about what happened that day. Facts that Ryan doesn't dispute. People that knew Ryan and were there for the discovery, not only an ex girlfriend. <br />Ryan doesn't dispute that he committed this heinous crime. Shoddy police work? Yes. Is he guilty? Yes. And as mentioned above, there was a lot of evidence pointing to sexual abuse. <br />When I found out about this, I was completely shocked. Ryan was always the life of the party, always smiling. But the person who told me about it was there, and from what he saw and heard (from Ryan), there is no doubt he is guilty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-45785414917491983172015-11-15T09:09:26.940-06:002015-11-15T09:09:26.940-06:00I'm just now reading this article.. I testifie...I'm just now reading this article.. I testified against him in the case. He showed no remorse, no fight, and didn't care. During our testimonies he wouldn't even look at us, he just stared down at the table. There was evidence that she had been sexually abused as well... Which makes me so sad for Katherine. Then she was killed in execution style, he was found in the bathroom tub unresponsive trying to overdose.. He didn't want to fight to stay out of jail, or death row. He just sat there and didn't say a word. Ryan Russell killed Katherine and that is that. Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00031460123445954741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-21564794177521183512015-04-10T23:30:50.822-05:002015-04-10T23:30:50.822-05:00it isn't just those sitting on death row, its ...it isn't just those sitting on death row, its all those who were not guilty of the crimes, who were executed. It is just amazing how many people in the USA have been convicted for crimes they did not commit. There is no justice system in the U.S.A. e.a.f.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-62573053723227448492015-04-07T08:47:02.107-05:002015-04-07T08:47:02.107-05:00No, I have written to him, but I would like to do ...No, I have written to him, but I would like to do that. I know at least one other journalist is interested in his case.legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-67248566235130343862015-04-07T05:54:51.728-05:002015-04-07T05:54:51.728-05:00Have you written to Russell? It couldn't be t...Have you written to Russell? It couldn't be that hard to get an address. He might be able to provide you with a transcript of the trial and he would definitely be able to provide more information regarding why the trial went in the direction it did. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-14379797705651602662015-04-06T22:09:24.073-05:002015-04-06T22:09:24.073-05:00I attended trial for one day, I think it was for s...I attended trial for one day, I think it was for sentencing hearing. Wish I could have been there for whole thing. Very troubling case, on many levels.legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-35964444331160649502015-04-06T21:12:52.674-05:002015-04-06T21:12:52.674-05:00I did attend a good portion of the trial, it was o...I did attend a good portion of the trial, it was open to the pubic. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-16499831046859540272015-04-06T21:04:27.302-05:002015-04-06T21:04:27.302-05:00Do you care to tell us how you know this informati...Do you care to tell us how you know this information? I assume you were at the trial in some capacity?legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-46534859483827029482015-04-06T20:56:44.808-05:002015-04-06T20:56:44.808-05:00I can not explain why it was not reported, but, if...I can not explain why it was not reported, but, if you obtained the a transcript from the trial, you would see that I am correct. The expert, I spoke of, testified about blood spatter in the laundry room. A washer and dryer were brought in the courtroom and he testified to the position Katherine was in when she received the fatal shot. Once the defense opened with an admission that Russell caused the death of Katherine, it really didn't matter what gun was used or what he did with it afterwards. Lack of the weapon doesn't mean you can't get a murder conviction. In fact, it isn't always necessary to have a body to get a murder conviction.<br /><br />There were multiple experts at the trial. One collected the guns, another tested the guns and another examined the blood. <br /><br />I never said Russell admitted to anything at the scene. I don't know why Russell didn't try to plea it down and, since I haven't talked with him, all I can do is speculate. My best guess is he thought he could beat the case by smooth talking the jury, but during the trial he decided not to testify. His attorney may have been counting on that testimony to show it was an accident. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-1174490911982998292015-04-06T19:54:17.449-05:002015-04-06T19:54:17.449-05:00Your comment, @5:30, raises several issues in my m...Your comment, @5:30, raises several issues in my mind:<br /><br />(1) I've scoured reports in Bham News and Shelby Co. Reporter and see no references to the defense admitting everything in the indictment. Why wasn't that reported? Or did I miss something? <br /><br />(2) This raises questions about effectiveness of counsel. Did Russell's lawyers conduct even the slightest investigation of their own? If they had, they should have learned that the prosecution could not meet its burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.<br /><br />(3) You seem to be saying that the defense made the prosecution's case for them. If so, that again goes to effectiveness of counsel.<br /><br />(4) If Russell was going to admit to almost everything, why didn't his lawyers push for a plea bargain that would have kept him off death row? Again, effectiveness of counsel. It makes no sense to more or less admit to the act, but still go to trial and wind up on death row.<br /><br />(5) What evidence did an expert show to prove the act was intentional? The experts quoted in the press could not even find all the guns at the scene.<br /><br />(6) You say, "The fact of which gun was used is irrelevant," but that's off target. According to press reports, the forensic expert could not match the bullet jacket to any gun at the house. That points to a gun being used from outside the house. If Russell's lawyers did not drive that point home in closing arguments . . . well, what kind of counsel did he have?<br /><br />(7) My memory is that Russell was found in a drunken, blacked-out state. Was he in any condition to accurately admit to anything?<br /><br />You might be making a good-hearted attempt to shine light on what happened. But your comment, in my view, has a lot of holes in it.legalschnauzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619089628125964154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-12936370002838839872015-04-06T17:30:03.427-05:002015-04-06T17:30:03.427-05:00The defense's opening argument consisted of th...The defense's opening argument consisted of them admitting everything in the indictment except that it was an intentional act. That is to say that Russell killed Katherine, but he didn't mean to. An expert witness showed evidence that convinced the jury it was intentional. The fact of which gun was used is irrelevant. If it was accidental, Russell should have testified to explain that. Given that information, any jury would convict him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-73678411246869856392015-04-06T15:55:30.971-05:002015-04-06T15:55:30.971-05:00I remember reading about this case when it happene...I remember reading about this case when it happened and being curious about the role of the teenagers. I'm still curious about what they did or did not do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-14704971982152077262015-04-06T15:00:43.219-05:002015-04-06T15:00:43.219-05:00If they didn't put on a defense, sounds like R...If they didn't put on a defense, sounds like Russell's court-appointed lawyers didn't put a whole lot of effort into things.Dibblenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-76086382051296146992015-04-06T11:01:50.135-05:002015-04-06T11:01:50.135-05:00Shelby Co is most conservative county in Alabama, ...Shelby Co is most conservative county in Alabama, and its judges must look "tough on crime." No way they let a guy like Russell walk, no matter what the facts show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-60012168750899639462015-04-06T09:52:36.812-05:002015-04-06T09:52:36.812-05:00A jury takes 35 minutes to decide a capital murder...A jury takes 35 minutes to decide a capital murder case? That means almost no one raised any questions about the facts or law presented to them. Very strange.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669412675139526125.post-67455273630340723402015-04-06T09:27:03.152-05:002015-04-06T09:27:03.152-05:00What a sad story that such a darling girl had to d...What a sad story that such a darling girl had to die in a chaotic situation. God bless her soul.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com