Breaking news 7/23 Hall pleads guilty to capital murder.

CW · #1 07-23-2008, 02:53 PM

Hall stood up in the courtroom durning a change of venue hearing and pleaded guilty to the charges.
http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/25813639.html
Olathe , MO) AP- A Kansas man pleads guilty to the kidnapping, rape and murder of a suburban Kansas City teenager snatched from a store parking lot last year.

Twenty-seven-year-old Edwin Hall pleaded guilty Wednesday to
capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, rape and sodomy in the June
2007 death of 18-year-old Kelsey Smith.

The Overland Park, Kan., teenager was taken from a Target
parking lot. Her body was found four days later in a Missouri park.

Hall's plea came during what was supposed to be a change-of-venue hearing.

It also came a day after a judge ruled that prosecutors could still seek the death penalty for Hall, even though Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline failed to put his address, telephone number and registration number on a legal notice.

CW · #2 07-23-2008, 03:20 PM

IMO the motive behind Hall pleading guilty today of capital murder is in hopes of sparing himself the death penality. I'm sure he and his attorney will plead to the judge that since he admitted guilt and saved Kelsey's family from the heartach of going through a trial and the tax payers of KS alot of money they are hoping the judge will sentence Hall to life with no possiblity of parole. I hope and pray the judge gives him the death penality. I'm sure they will try to save him from the death penalty using a mental illness with a low IQ.

RIP Kelsey

Armandv101 · #3 07-23-2008, 03:29 PM

Agreed. A lot of us had the feeling that he'd do this to save his bacon.

Right now I have mixed feelings about this outcome. Part of me is glad that the family has been spared a trial, but part of me also feels that he should have been tried, convicted and given the DP.

Maybe right now I am more stunned. I'll have to let it sink it a little.

luvbeaches · #4 07-23-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armandv101

Agreed. A lot of us had the feeling that he'd do this to save his bacon.

Right now I have mixed feelings about this outcome. Part of me is glad that the family has been spared a trial, but part of me also feels that he should have been tried, convicted and given the DP.

Maybe right now I am more stunned. I'll have to let it sink it a little.

Armand, the plea is the best thing. Really. I was scared to death that Kline would make a mistake. I have family and friends in LE and who are attorneys, and all were worried about a misstep.

This is the best possible outcome. I'd heard about this plea deal a while back, and I a SO glad it came to be.

Armandv101 · #5 07-23-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbeaches

Armand, the plea is the best thing. Really. I was scared to death that Kline would make a mistake. I have family and friends in LE and who are attorneys, and all were worried about a misstep.

This is the best possible outcome. I'd heard about this plea deal a while back, and I a SO glad it came to be.

I meant to say, "sink in a little."

I agree, this is the best we could hope for since Kansas hasn't put to death anyone since dinosaurs ruled the earth.

I could see why they copped the plea. The evidence was overwhelming.

Let me say this one last time, "Hall was toast!"

Armandv101 · #6 07-23-2008, 05:42 PM

I hope that's a typo. I hope they meant Hall.

Still, somehow I really don't feel in a celebratory mood.

fran · #7 07-23-2008, 06:04 PM

I'm not sure it's worth it to go through all that's necessary to get him the DP. At least he'll die in prison. That's all that counts.

Like you said, he's TOAST.

Bless Kelsey and her family.
It's a sad case.
No winners.

fran

Tom'sGirl · #8 07-23-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armandv101

I hope that's a typo. I hope they meant Hall.

Still, somehow I really don't feel in a celebratory mood.

I think I'll delete that, damn reporters! Thanks Armand

Liz · #9 07-23-2008, 06:50 PM

Thanks for the news, Windchime!

I hope that the Smith family is happy with this outcome. If they're happy about it, then I'm happy! My thoughts and prayers are with them.

LinasK · #10 07-23-2008, 06:53 PM

RIP Kelsey. I so sorry you had to endure all you did. What a tragic waste of a beautiful young life. At least he confessed. He will pay.

Busylady · #11 07-23-2008, 11:00 PM

I am so thankful for this outcome. The family will not need to go through a horrible trial, and further details will be kept private. They can now grieve and focus on the beautiful memories they have of Kelsey instead of court dates, media statements etc. Its time this family has some time to heal.

Tom'sGirl · #12 07-23-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busylady

I am so thankful for this outcome. The family will not need to go through a horrible trial, and further details will be kept private. They can now grieve and focus on the beautiful memories they have of Kelsey instead of court dates, media statements etc. Its time this family has some time to heal.

I agree, what we heard today in court was bad enough............more than bad, sick, sick!

Diamond · #13 07-24-2008, 03:09 AM

OMG!!!

My first reactions are relief and joy. I was scared (almost convinced) he would get out of this...somehow. However, as it sinks in, my feelings might change. I, too, wanted the death penalty. I haven't kept close to this case for personal reasons, but it's one that means a lot to me. For now...I am pleased.

MagicRose99 · #14 07-24-2008, 07:15 AM

Rest in peace Kelsey... you can rest now, knowing that this trash will pay for what he did to you and your family. God bless you all.

adnoid · #15 07-24-2008, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armandv101

...part of me also feels that he should have been tried, convicted and given the DP...

Pretty much all of me wishes that.

Lola · #16 07-24-2008, 09:04 AM

Thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of Kelsey Smith. There is no real justice in this turn of events, but it's probably the best that could be hoped for.

luvbeaches · #17 07-24-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adnoid

Pretty much all of me wishes that.

The DP would have been nice, but here in Kansas we've not executed anyone since the mid-60's. So in a way the DP doesn't mean much here.

I'm not completely sure, but getting LWOP probably means he'll be in the general prison population rather than isolated (if he were on death row). Since Kansas won't kill him, it's nice that he's going to be exposed to the rest of the prisoners.

And I suspect his time there won't be nice. At least that's what I am hoping.

luvbeaches · #18 07-24-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lola

Thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of Kelsey Smith. There is no real justice in this turn of events, but it's probably the best that could be hoped for.

I'm hoping they slept a little easier last night. Nothing will bring Kelsey back, but at least the monster who took her life is now going to prison.

Armandv101 · #19 07-24-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvbeaches

Since Kansas won't kill him, it's nice that he's going to be exposed to the rest of the prisoners.

And I suspect his time there won't be nice. At least that's what I am hoping.

It is well-known that perverts, child molesters and others of that ilk are considered the lowest of the low by the general inmate population. Hall definitely isn't going to Club Med.

luvbeaches · #20 07-24-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armandv101

It is well-known that perverts, child molesters and others of that ilk are considered the lowest of the low by the general inmate population. Hall definitely isn't going to Club Med.

That's what I was thinking. I was hoping Club Fed, but this will work.

chicoliving · #21 08-08-2008, 04:55 AM

This link should take you to the now archived forum

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=125

luvbeaches · #22 08-08-2008, 01:11 PM

This is where I'll post the info from the sentencing hearing. The LWOP was handed down at the hearing, so I suspect this will just be the formal end to that, but there's the other charges that have a varying degree of times that could be given. Not that those will really matter...he's going to spend the rest of his life in prison.

luvbeaches · #23 09-16-2008, 10:31 AM

I don't think I am going to be able to make it to the sentencing today. It's possible, but unlikely. Hall was given LWOP and waived his right to appeal his conviction for the murder of Kelsey Smith (this back in July, I believe). There are 3 or 4 other charges that he'll receive his sentence for today.

I don't know if Hall will speak or not today. There was article in the paper the other day in which Hall's attorney said he didn't know if Hall would speak to the family.

There's one thing that I've never heard clarification on and that's the letter that Hall gave to the Smith family earlier in the year. I thought this was strange. It's possible that the contents of this letter may be discussed. Or maybe not.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Smith family.

http://www.kansascity.com/livevideo/

Kelsey Smith's murderer sentenced today VIDEO
- 09/16/2008 08:48 AM CDT

The man who kidnapped, raped and murdered Kelsey Smith will be sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole. That is the only sentence Edwin R. Hall can face. KansasCity.com is planning live coverage of the sentencing hearing and the post-hearing news conference.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/