Kentucky Sheriff’s Defense Seeks Reduced Charges, Citing 'Crime of Passion' in Judge’s Killing-REPLAY EPISODE

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Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, accused of fatally shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in a shocking courthouse incident, is seeking to have his charges reduced from murder to manslaughter. Stines’ defense attorney, Jeremy Bartley, argued that the killing was a “crime of passion,” carried out during an “extreme emotional disturbance” and thus warrants a lesser charge.
“It was not something that was planned and occurred in the heat of passion,” Bartley stated in an interview with *People*. “For us, the highest level of culpability should be manslaughter based on the partial defense of extreme emotional disturbance.”
The tragic encounter between the two longtime friends, Stines, 43, and Mullins, 54, occurred inside Mullins’ chambers in the Letcher County Courthouse. Surveillance footage revealed the pair in a tense discussion before Stines drew a gun and aimed it at Mullins’ head. The footage showed Mullins sitting behind his desk, raising his hands in apparent fear as Stines fired eight rounds, with Mullins attempting to hide under the desk.
Prosecutors presented the footage last week, showcasing Mullins’ desperate attempts to avoid the gunfire. The video reportedly captures Stines approaching Mullins, who was crouched beneath the desk, and firing two additional shots at close range before leaving the room where Mullins had served as judge for 15 years.
According to Kentucky Detective Clayton Stamper, additional footage captured Stines making multiple calls to his daughter on both his own phone and Mullins’. Stamper testified that police found Stines’ daughter’s number saved on the judge’s phone. Shortly after the shooting, Stines surrendered to law enforcement, asking them to “treat me fair” as he was taken into custody. In an unusual twist, he informed the police, “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid,” though authorities have yet to elaborate on the specifics of this statement.
While the motivation behind the violent confrontation remains unclear, authorities have suggested a potential link to a sex scandal, though they have not provided further details. Stines has entered a plea of not guilty to first-degree murder and is currently being held at the Leslie County Jail. The case has moved to a grand jury, with the prosecution and defense preparing for upcoming proceedings.
As the investigation continues, detectives are examining the cellphones involved and interviewing additional witnesses to shed light on the events leading to this fatal encounter.
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