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Letter to the
Editor
Family Reacts
to Not Guilty
Verdict in
Murder Trial
web posted
November 12,
2013
Dear
Editor,
The following is
our thoughts on
the case of the
State vs John
David Herndon
for the stabbing
death of Mark
Meadows on
Memorial Day
2012, where
somehow John
David Herndon
was found not
guilty.
During the
course of the
trial there were
several
witnesses that
were for and
against both
Mark Meadows and
John David
Herndon.
However, let us
focus on the
physical
evidence and
testimony of the
defendant that
we see as
pointing to the
intentional
murder of Mark
Meadows at the
hand of Mr.
Herndon. But
before we
explore that
lets look at a
few events that
happened in the
courtroom.
Starting with
the some of
evidence the
prosecution was
denied
presenting the
jury:
•
The use of John
David Herndon’s
personal
documents, which
according to
others had some
damaging
statements about
his thoughts on
“wanting to kill
someone”
•
The police
finding 24
marijuana plants
at his residence
during a search
of his house
•
That the
defendant was on
probation
•
An event where
John David
wielded a
shotgun in a
supposed attempt
to force his
then girl friend
back to the
house [in
another incident
prior to] the
stabbing
•
His previous run
ins with police
•
Testimony by
others of these
and additional
information
Even with all of
this withheld
the blood and
wound evidence
told a different
story from the
reason given by
the defendant
John David
Herndon. And in
my opinion if
you take out all
of the witnesses
against or for
Mark’s and John
David’s
character the
guilt could
still be clearly
seen but somehow
it was
overlooked. So
why was it
overlooked?
Might it have
been the judge’s
work overload
and that he
wanted to be on
time for a ball
game? Was it his
continual
concern for the
juror’s time and
constant
reminding the
defense and
prosecution
about trying to
get completed by
Friday but
stating that he
doubted it?
Might it also be
because of that
work load that
he worked on
other case
documents during
his time in
court?
Regardless of
the reason, the
jurors only took
1 hour to view
the evidence and
come to their
conclusion
Friday
evening.
Maybe it was the
emphasis the
judge put on the
reasonable doubt
of the
“defendant,”
leaving out the
name of John
David Herndon,
but then placing
the name of the
victim Mark
Meadows in his
explanation of
the law. Or
maybe it was the
defense
employing every
kind of
physiological
weapon during
the trial. Such
as dropping a
clipboard right
by the jury and
saying “Oh
Excuse Me!” just
when the
prosecution
revealed the
first photos of
the victims
three fatal stab
wounds.
Maybe it was the
constant moving
back and forth
by the defense
attorneys during
the prosecutions
line of
questioning
distracting
jurors from
listening to
witnesses. It
was possibly the
short dress of
one of the
prosecutors
revealing attire
while at the top
of the juror’s
box during
prosecutions
cross
examination. To
be sure this
caught the eye
of the male
jurors during
witness’s
testimony, which
only served as
another
distraction from
their duty. Or
the facial
disapproval and
sighs of that
defense attorney
while close to
the jurors
during the
solicitors
questioning.
Getting away
with this even
though the
family of the
victim was
called down by
the judge for
nodding their
heads to an
answer one
witness
gave. In
that one
instance the
judge even
threatened jail
time so as to be
careful not
persuades a
juror one way or
the other.
Maybe it was the
testimony of Mr.
Herndon which
gave such
specifics as the
type and precise
size of the beer
he purchased,
how many
cigarettes he
smoked, right
down to the
color and style
of the backpacks
used to tote the
alcohol. To be
followed by him
describing his
actions in more
detail than most
can remember a
day after an
event much less
18 months later.
In my opinion
this clearly
shows coaching
and is simply a
ploy attempting
to display John
David Herndon’s
testimony as
accurate and
credible
(another classic
physiological
manipulation).
After this the
defense attorney
asked him to
step down from
the witness seat
and demonstrate
how he was
supposedly
defending
himself against
Mark Meadows.
Crouching down
the accused
flawlessly took
the rubber knife
and acted out
his rendition of
the event.
However, for
some reason
during cross
examination John
David stated he
did not remember
how his knife
was held, he did
not recollect
his actions
after being
placed in the
police cruiser,
nor did he
recall his
actions in the
jail cell. To
top this off he
subsequently
refused to
reenact anything
for the
prosecutor.
Whether from the
inaccuracy of
Mr. Herndon’s
statement made
to his neighbor
that a man
unknown to him
tried to break
into his house
minutes after
the stabbing, to
the police video
of Mr. Herndon
crying out “He
was trying to
break into my
House,” Mr.
Herndon
repeatedly
contradicted the
facts as they
where laid out.
Then during
testimony Mr.
Herndon changed
his story.
He now was
stating that Mr.
Meadows had
spent the day
with him and out
of no where Mr.
Meadows
attacked. From
the statement
that he had
bruises from
blows inflicted
by the victim to
the jail report
which stated
that he was
beating his head
against the
walls of the
jail cell the
day before
pictures where
taken of his
bruises. This
being backed up
by photo’s right
after the crime
to photos of the
next day. To Mr.
Herndon stating
that the fight
was by the front
door to only be
contradicted by
the blood
evidence on the
side of the
porch. Mr.
Herndon’s
version just did
not add
up.
He gave
testimony that
he was stooped
over protecting
his head while
thrusting the
knife in a
panicked
un-aiming
fashion to be
contradicted by
the downward
wound in Mr.
Meadows throat
which implies
that Mr. Herndon
was in a
standing
position.
Furthermore, the
statements that
he was just
pushing his
knife out, in
that panicked
state, while
shielding his
head, but
somehow was able
to make three
precise central
hits - one to
Mr. Meadows
throat, one to
his heart, and
one to his liver
causing the
death of the
unarmed victim.
The coroner
added to these
gruesome details
when she stated
that Mr. Meadows
would have been
unconscious in
less than 60
seconds and dead
within 2
minutes.
This could be
perceived as
ranting about
how this was
unfair to only
have someone
state life is
unfair and
victims have no
rights only the
criminals do.
Stating
furthermore,
that we need to
get over it and
should get used
to it. However,
I used to hold
the view that
the court room
was a level
playing field.
That even when
you had a well
paid lawyer if
the majority of
the evidence
pointed against
you, you would
still be found
guilty. That our
country was
founded on the
self evident
words that “All
Men are Created
Equal.”
That we had
certain rights,
chief of which
is LIFE.
Call me old
fashioned, call
me out of touch,
but this was my
view. Today that
view is
shattered. Ask
yourself what if
the victim was a
high level
officer,
politician,
prominent
figure, or
“anyone of
importance?” Do
you think the
outcome would
have been
different? Would
all those
involved shown
more respect and
attention to
their jobs?
Would there have
been more
attention and
honor paid to
finding the
truth rather
than being
concerned about
being on time
for a game or
being required
to come in an
extra day? After
all; this was
someone’s life
that was taken
from them by a
brutal stabbing.
Regardless if
they were a
homeless man or
prominent within
the community
they still
deserve respect
and
justice.
It is what our
country is
founded on and
the ideal we
aspire to.
If there was a
lack of physical
evidence then
this is
unfounded. But
as noted by
experts and the
opinions of the
police this was
a shocking
verdict.
Before I
pictured judges
and court staff
concerned about
justice and
upholding their
oaths of office
in respect for
both victims and
the
accused.
But now I see
uninvolved and
overworked court
staff that was
unable to give
the attention to
detail as
needed. I
viewed us as law
abiding citizens
caring about our
laws and being
concerned when
they are
violated. Now I
see United
States citizens
more engulfed
with being out
on time rather
than making sure
justice is met.
Before I heard
the testimony
and viewed the
evidence I held
the view that
Mark Meadows had
just got into a
fight with John
David Herndon.
Viewing Mr.
Herndon as
merely being a
coward and using
a knife against
an unarmed man.
But now I see
something
completely
different. I see
a man with evil
forethought and
cruel intent
brutally killing
his unsuspecting
victim. I see a
court system
that is so
flawed it is
amazing that any
criminal could
be found guilty.
I see citizens
more concerned
with getting the
job done than
the job done
right. I see the
aftermath of
injustice.
In spite of
this, justice is
out there. There
are those of us
that do care and
will stand up
for the wrongs
we encounter.
The echoes of
those that have
shouted against
injustices of
times past still
reverberate
today. We beg of
you to gain
strength from
their resolve as
marble pillars
reinforcing our
founding ideals.
While there will
be no justice
for Mark Meadows
there may be for
you or a loved
one. Please do
not make the
mistakes we made
in this trail.
If you see any
injustice take
the Judge to the
side, talk to
your lawyers,
study up and be
prepared. Please
speak your mind,
stand up, and be
heard. Don’t let
those ideals
slip silently
by, be that
voice that we
were not and now
so wish that we
were.
Michael and
Andrea Hutto,
Mark Meadow's
Sister and
brother in law
Editor's
note: Due to
the holiday,
Edgefield
Daily was
unable to
confirm that
Herndon was on
probation at
the time of
the shotgun
incident.
For all
past articles please visit our Archives
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2012
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