12-27-2012, 11:03 AM
9/6/2012
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CADIZ, Ky. - It's been more than 10 years since 33-year-old Chantell Humphries was murdered in Cadiz, Kentucky.It's a case that's remained unsolved, but a new trial is underway for the man charged with Humphies' death.Claude Russell faces a capital murder charge for the 2002 murder of Humphires. Investigators first charged Russell in 2002, but later dropped those charges because of a lack of evidence.
CADIZ, Ky. — An FBI firearms analyst testified Wednesday that the bullets that killed Chantell Humphries came from Claude Russell’s gun.
Russell is currently on trial for Humphries’ murder in 2002.
During the trial, Erich Smith examined eight cartridge casings and one live round that were taken from the crime scene. Smith also examined a .357 Taurus revolver owned by Russell. Police seized Russell’s gun following Humphries’ death.
Smith said he fired Russell’s gun twice himself, both to test its operation and to compare the casings from the rounds he fired to the ones taken at the crime scene. After comparing the casings, Smith concluded they match.
Additionally, the casings taken at the scene were a mixture of .38 and .357 rounds, said Kentucky State Police Detective Steve Bryan. Bryan also said Russell admitted to purchasing both types of bullets when he bought the gun.
Commonwealth’s Attorney G.L. Ovey previously said bullet fragments from inside Humphries’ body also match Russell’s gun.
9/11/2012
By ANGELA HATTON AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Credit kentuckystatepolice.org
Trigg Circuit Judge C.A. Woodall has declared a mistrial in the trial of Claude Russell, who was charged with killing Chantell Humphries in 2002. The Kentucky New Era reports the action came Monday night after a nine-day trial when jurors twice reported they could not come up with a unanimous verdict. Humphries' body was found on a cattle farm in Trigg County in June 2002.
A grand jury indicted Russell for murder in 2003, but prosecutors dismissed the case citing a lack of evidence. Russell was indicted again in 2011 after police re-investigated the case.
FBI expert links gun to murder
CADIZ, Ky. — An FBI firearms analyst testified Wednesday that the bullets that killed Chantell Humphries came from Claude Russell’s gun.
Russell is currently on trial for Humphries’ murder in 2002.
During the trial, Erich Smith examined eight cartridge casings and one live round that were taken from the crime scene. Smith also examined a .357 Taurus revolver owned by Russell. Police seized Russell’s gun following Humphries’ death.
Smith said he fired Russell’s gun twice himself, both to test its operation and to compare the casings from the rounds he fired to the ones taken at the crime scene. After comparing the casings, Smith concluded they match.
Additionally, the casings taken at the scene were a mixture of .38 and .357 rounds, said Kentucky State Police Detective Steve Bryan. Bryan also said Russell admitted to purchasing both types of bullets when he bought the gun.
Commonwealth’s Attorney G.L. Ovey previously said bullet fragments from inside Humphries’ body also match Russell’s gun.
9/11/2012
Judge Declares Mistrial in Russell Case
By ANGELA HATTON AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Credit kentuckystatepolice.org
Trigg Circuit Judge C.A. Woodall has declared a mistrial in the trial of Claude Russell, who was charged with killing Chantell Humphries in 2002. The Kentucky New Era reports the action came Monday night after a nine-day trial when jurors twice reported they could not come up with a unanimous verdict. Humphries' body was found on a cattle farm in Trigg County in June 2002.
A grand jury indicted Russell for murder in 2003, but prosecutors dismissed the case citing a lack of evidence. Russell was indicted again in 2011 after police re-investigated the case.