Note handed to judge in Joe Baird trial causes stir, but no action

Cell phone records focus of second day of murder trial

VERO BEACH - In Tuesday morning’s session of the first-degree murder trial of accused killer Michael David Jones, prosecutors continued to lay out the narrative of Jones’ movements and actions in the days surrounding the death of Diana Duve in June 2014. A PNC bank teller testified to Jones withdrawing $2,500 cash and saying he was going on vacation on June 20, 2014 — the day police say Duve died by manual strangulation.  Jones had worked at PNC Wealth Management on Ocean Drive before his arrest, and on Monday the executive assistant and office manager who worked with Jones at PNC testified Jones had texted her that morning of Friday, June 20, 2014 to say he would not be in ...

Murder trial of Michael Jones begins after five years

VERO BEACH — After more than five years since the June 2014 death of Diana Duve, and after three weeks of jury selection, the first-degree murder trial of accused killer Michael David Jones started Monday in Judge Dan Vaughn's courtroom. At the end of the day, prosecutors had called numerous witnesses to give testimony about Duve's disappearance, her on-and-off relationship with Jones, and the events leading up to the discovery of her body in the trunk of her Nissan Altima in a Melbourne parking lot. A key witness in the case will be Vero Beach police Cpl. Brad Kmetz, the lead detective on the missing person's case, which turned into a murder investigation. Chief Assistant State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl said ...

Man who killed brother makes 3rd attempt at ‘stand your ground’ defense

A Vero Beach man accused of shooting his brother dead after a night of heavy drinking and brawling in a home at the Indian River Aerodrome is making his third bid in four years to use Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” statute as his defense. He has been charged with first degree murder with a firearm in connection with the Oct. 19, 2014 incident. Mark Deffendall's second attempt to use the controversial law, was denied by Judge Cynthia L. Cox after a hearing in June. Undeterred, Deffendall, 43, has now filed an appeal with Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the judge's decision and gain access to the controversial defense. Attorney Alan D. Hunt, who is representing Deffendall, ...