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.