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Wood’s trial set
Ferriday teen to face murder charges April 14
Published Thursday, February 14, 2008
VIDALIA — The Ferriday teen accused of killing three people in March 2007 will go to trial April 14.
The date was set by Judge Leo Boothe when Conner L. Wood, 16, appeared before the Seventh District Judicial Court Wednesday after his legal counsel filed a motion to suppress self-incriminating statements Wood made to investigators.
If the motion is successful, the prosecution will not be allowed to use any confessions Wood made.
Wood is accused of killing his parents and a neighbor, Matthew Whittington, 16.
The state rested in the matter Wednesday, but Wood’s attorneys want to hear the testimony of a Concordia Parish Sheriff’s deputy who could not make the hearing before they rest.
The matter is set to be resolved at 8 a.m. Feb. 27.
Wood’s attorney Paul Lempke asked Boothe to have the hearing behind closed doors.
“We feel exposure of these statements at this time would contaminate the jury pool of Concordia Parish,” he said.
Assistant District Attorney Brad Burget objected to Lempke’s request.
“This was a crime against the people of Concordia Parish, a few people in particular,” Burget said. “In this country we have a history of open courts.”
The prosecution brought a parade of witnesses to the stand, largely Ferriday Police Officers and CPSO deputies.
Ferriday Police Lt. John Hawkins testified when he arrived at the 119 Shady Lane residence of John and Jerri Wood on the morning of March 14, Conner Wood was hysterical, and Hawkins placed him in the back of his police car for Wood’s protection until the perimeter could be secured.
Hawkins also testified Wood was read his Miranda rights by Lt. Derrick Freeman.
“(Wood) was not under arrest at that time, but that’s the standard procedure for juveniles,” Hawkins said.
Freeman later testified after he read Wood his rights he only asked him to identify the deceased and contact information for family members.
CPSO Investigator David Hedricks testified he took Wood to his office at the CPSO to get him out of that crime scene environment, and Wood began telling him he wanted to talk to Hedricks about something.
“I wouldn’t let him give a statement because I wanted an adult with his best interests in mind to be present,” Hedricks said.
After Wood’s brother Hudson Wood was transported from Ruston by State Police and CPSO personnel, Hedricks said he read Wood his Miranda rights in Hudson’s presence.
Connor Wood reportedly told Hedricks he did not want his brother present for the statement.
Prosecutors played two video statements Wood made, the first one on March 14 and the second one on March 17. Throughout both statements, Hedrick repeatedly told Wood he could stop at any time and if he wanted an attorney or his brother present he could have both.
Prosecutors also played the 911 incident tape from the Ferriday Police.
The prosecution also entered into evidence legal documents signed by Wood acknowledging he understood and knew what he was doing by giving the statements.
During the 911 call, Wood stated an intruder had broken into the house and killed his parents, and he had killed the intruder.
In the first video statement, made March 14, Wood said the killing had been Whittington’s idea, and Whittington had killed Jerri and John Wood after Conner became hesitant about it, and after the killings Conner became angry and killed Whittington.
In the second statement, Wood told Hedricks the killings had been Whittington’s ideas, and after Wood got cold feet about killings, Whittington talked him back into it and Wood killed his parents. He then stated he became angry with Whittington and shot him.
When Burget asked Hedricks if he coerced Wood into giving a statement, he denied it.
“That is not morally right, and I would never do that,” he said.
When Wood took the stand later in the evening, he alleged Hedricks told him he could help him if he made a statement.
“I wouldn’t have made the statement if I hadn’t thought he could help me,” Wood said.
Burget asked Wood if understood his rights.
“You have a right to remain silent,” Burget said. “Do you understand what that means?”
Wood said he understands now, but he did not understand at the time.
“Regardless of how many times he told me my rights, that doesn’t mean I understood my rights,” Wood said. “You can tell me something 100 times and that doesn’t mean I understood it.”
Wood also alleged Hedricks told him he was an attorney, and he denied Hedricks had offered to let him speak to a family member.
Upon rebuttal, Hedricks denied Wood’s allegations.
Comments
Posted by peaceout (anonymous) on February 14, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
boo hoo!
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on February 14, 2008 at 2:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure he didn't understand...was his ears still ringing when this happened???
Posted by doubled (anonymous) on February 14, 2008 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HOW MUCH HATE DO A CHILD HAVE TO KILL THEIR PARENTS? EVERYONE SHOULD CHERISH THEIR LOVEONES ESPECIALLY ......PARENTS.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on February 14, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
stupidity is no excuse.
Posted by itsawounderfullife (anonymous) on February 14, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This child is evil, of course thats just my opinion. I think he should be punished to the fullest extent.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on February 14, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just don't have words for this. I feel so bad for the Wood boy and his remaining family, yet I feel even worse for the Whittington family. Their son did not go down "in a blaze of glory" fighting for his country...he was brutally murdered by a sadistic fool who tried to implicate him. Shame on you Conner!
Posted by hutto2007 (anonymous) on February 14, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All life has a beginning, and an end. Its what we do in the middle that counts. Its who we follow that decides our fate. Life comes full circle. I thank God that I do not have a clue what is in this boys mind. I do pray for his soul....it may be all he has left. One day, when he meets his maker, all truths will come to light and nothing will be shadowed by the darkness. One day, he will truly pay for the evil that is in his heart. I do pray for him and his eternal resting place. For the Whittington family, you know you are in my prayers daily. God be with you all.
Posted by jill1289 (anonymous) on February 14, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yousaywhat's comments were removed for a good reason. Totally inappropriate.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on February 15, 2008 at 12:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What did they say????
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on February 15, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i hope this kid gets what he deserve... it's all heart breaking at the same time
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on February 15, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yep, looks like we all agree, he's evil and deserves, well there is no punishment severe enough?
Does Louisiana have a death penalty, if ever a crime deserved it, this one does in my opinion, and it should be done in the very near future as there is no doubt what happened. Whatever his motives were, and from what I hear his motives were really sickening, they certainly don't justify what he did.
Posted by medicalmania (anonymous) on February 16, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If someone has to ask if LA has the death penality then they don't need to be involved in major decisions such as finding him evil. Has anyone questioned certain things such as abuse, molestation, things that could make a person have quesionable activity? Just we can't judge it is our makers job. Let the law play out accordingly
Posted by josey (anonymous) on February 16, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you medicalmania for your comments. WE the family and friends appreciate you not judging. Conner will be punished accordingly but that will not bring back Jerri or John and it does not help Hudson or the rest of the family to see this hatred spewed out toward him.
Posted by peaceout (anonymous) on February 18, 2008 at 1:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you thanked someone for saying that maybe his parents abused him?! why would this not be slanderous also? that makes no sense whatsoever!
Posted by comminatcha (anonymous) on February 18, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Josey was trying to say that she appreciated medicalmania's first sentence and the last one. AND for the 100th time... Connor was not mistreated by his parents!!! They loved him very much and only wanted what was best for him. Jerri's family is going through a living Hell right now!! Unfortunatly it is not getting easier with the trial starting up and her family is there listening to all of it and reliving all of it. It is truly Hell on this family. What they need is our prayers not trash talking!
Posted by josey (anonymous) on February 20, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
comminatcha...................I know you and the family understood what I ment and that is all that counts to me. (Love and prayers to all) The very idea of people even thinking something like that of Jerri and John is abhorrant and sickning. I am coming home next week and have been thinking about the wind chimes you put out for Jerri ( I can see her face light up at the melody ). If I get a chance I want to put some out as well.
peaceout.............reread what I said and what comminatcha said. All we ask is for people on here to understand the pain and suffering this family has faced and is facing in the future. I respect the right to free speach just show a little respect and compassion for these people and keep the hate and judgment to themselves.
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